Ikea restaurant can be found inside the furniture store -going towards Al-khor from Doha . It is on the second floor . It is cheap neat place with some simple selection of breakfast dishes and wider selection of dishes for lunch and dinner . They open at 9:30 and close around ten on week days and they are open till midnight on Fridays .
This is a self- service restaurant with a retro feel. Places like that were in abundance in the 70's and 80's in Budapest .You take your tray/tray trolley and then you take the dishes you like . There were sandwiches - gourmet plates /baby food /Swedish cold plate /Swedish meat balls . The most expensive dish was 30 rial - a large salmon steak grilled with steamed veggies .The dish of the day was 19 rial roasted chicken leg with Risi e Bisi . The other dishes were in between . They offered two kinds of soup . And three /four types of desserts : rice pudding , fruit salad ,muffin , and other pastries. The hot drinks came at the price of five rial - you must take an empty mug and pay for the nothing at the cashier .After that you can help yourself to your favorite coffee/cappuccino /tea at the machine and you can have free refill as many times as you wish . The same goes for the soft drinks. You pay at the cashier for an empty glass then you fill it on your own .Very generous treat -indeed !And the quality of the cappuccino was excellent !( and I am very picky when it is about the quality of coffee based hot drinks )
We tried the daily dish . It was the best risotto I have ever had . The roasted chicken leg was good . The rice pudding was excellent . My only concern was that we could not finish our dishes - they were too large portions and the restaurant did not provide any wrapping for take-away . So it was a sad waste of food for many other people as well -as I saw .
You can have a nice view to Doha -especially at night you can have this modern city feel while sipping a hot drink . There are two small playing areas for kids inside the restaurant -rather for preschoolers . There are products displayed for sale -large curtains this or that inside the place which somehow did not come out nicely to me . It was like they say " You are enjoying our cheap meals and drinks so you must have a look at our merchandise ."
Apart from that it was a nice new gourmet experience in Doha where I would return with pleasure .
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
newest hotels and attractions in Qatar
Nigel Tisdall reports on the newest hotels and attractions in Qatar
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
How to get rich in Qatar - my business ideas part one
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I was reading the advertisement of a Hungarian cake shop :"Strawberry yoghurt cake with birch sugar, floating islands and mille-feuille with birch sugar: these are our New Weekend Specials ! You can taste them, come and visit us": Van Gogh's Cafe and Pastry Shop "
Then I asked myself ; why not in Qatar ?
Xylitol has natural sugar taste and it has far less calories than usual sugar .
Qatar has a high number of diabetics . Around 25% of the population . Qatar has wealth . Many people love cakes /cafes - but as far as I know - there is no healthy choice for those who wants to keep themselves away from regular sugar .
My recipe for this business : find expert pastry chefs who know how to use the birch sugar /buy birch sugar /open a cafe in a mall .. then sweep the money you earn :)
Easy isn't it / You can send me some cake as well !
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Six Greek islands were bought by Qatar
$11m was paid for six picturesque and peaceful isles in the Ionian sea .Debt-stricken Greece tries to balance its books and is going to sell 50 out of their 6,000 islands.Qatar got those isles at bargain price .
source
GREECE, Ionian Islands, KEFALONIA, Assos: Gallery Wrap Canvas by danitadelimont
Check out Sea Canvas Prints online at zazzle
source
GREECE, Ionian Islands, KEFALONIA, Assos: Gallery Wrap Canvas by danitadelimont
Check out Sea Canvas Prints online at zazzle
Thursday, March 07, 2013
Computer Age
Computer Age
Buy This at Allposters.com
I found this print at allposters.com - I liked the humor of it - the artist name was not found .
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Sellng with Zazzle to every continent
I got an order from Egypt yesterday . Someone bought Hungarian themed greeting cards . With this new African customer I can say proudly that I have already sold designs worldwide .My design shop at Zazzle have had customers from the US /Canada / UK /Brasil / Australia ,Japan , Thailand , all major Western Europian countries . I must say that my micro business really became multinatonal :)
Thank You Zazzle for that ! Thanks to my customers and visitors! Thanks to those who invented the internet and brought the world to my room !
Thank You Zazzle for that ! Thanks to my customers and visitors! Thanks to those who invented the internet and brought the world to my room !
Sunday, March 03, 2013
A beautiful March morning in Doha
Can someone love a city that one had known only from the car ?Can one feel the tingling warmth of an early spring day? Can one hear the joyful song of the birds? Can someone notice the fruits laden tree while riding a car ?. (Yes, there is such thing in Qatar) Can someone have the delight of seeing the old villas' fences full of bougainvilleas upon which cats sunbathe? Can one be surprised when the gate of an old villa is opening and a little Indian girl wearing a floral printed cotton dress is smiling in the sun on the passing stranger? Can someone know the city he lives in while riding his car on the main roads only?And knowing nothing about the little streets which guard the pleasure of the past ?
We saw thousands of wonders this morning on this splendid March morning while walking to the kindergarten with my child .My dear friends - may you have some similar pleasures !Leave your cars in the parking sometimes . Walk and explore the wonders of the area where you happen to live !
Mood - poetic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W_G3xmSGfo
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Ikea Qatar is openning in Mid-march
Are you interested in buying furniture ? Are you ready to assemble your furniture ? You do not mind that it has been already sold in millions of copy ? Then it is IKEA whom you need .
Ikea in Qatar is opening soon - in two weeks time .March the 11 th - they say so .It is somewhere in the North of Doha ( Shamal Road ).
See their online catalogue
Update March 12
Now it is open . It looks good and big .It has a big restaurant with more than 500 seats /affordable and healthy meals and play area for kids .
if you are not for assembling the furniture on your own then you can ask for their team who will put it together in your house .
It is a ten minute drive from Landmark going to Al-khor direction .There are huge posts leading to Ikea . You can't miss it !Enjoy !
Ikea in Qatar is opening soon - in two weeks time .March the 11 th - they say so .It is somewhere in the North of Doha ( Shamal Road ).
See their online catalogue
Update March 12
Now it is open . It looks good and big .It has a big restaurant with more than 500 seats /affordable and healthy meals and play area for kids .
if you are not for assembling the furniture on your own then you can ask for their team who will put it together in your house .
It is a ten minute drive from Landmark going to Al-khor direction .There are huge posts leading to Ikea . You can't miss it !Enjoy !
Poet in PrisoN
Qatar is much criticized internationally for putting one of their nationals in prison .Learn facts about this case .
The accused name : Muhammad Rashid al-Ajami his pen name is ibn al dheeb ( the son of the wolf - I think)
His crime : he wrote a poem about the corrupted Arab leaders calling each and everyone a thief - this was understood by the governemnet of Qatar as an attempt to overthrow the regime
Where - it happened in Egypt while he was studying Arabic literature and he was challenged at a poets competition
He was sentenced for life then it was reduced to 15 years .
Calling for the overthrow of the government is codified under Article 136 of Qatar's penal code,and it calls for life sentence .
Learn more about the CASE .
The accused name : Muhammad Rashid al-Ajami his pen name is ibn al dheeb ( the son of the wolf - I think)
His crime : he wrote a poem about the corrupted Arab leaders calling each and everyone a thief - this was understood by the governemnet of Qatar as an attempt to overthrow the regime
Where - it happened in Egypt while he was studying Arabic literature and he was challenged at a poets competition
He was sentenced for life then it was reduced to 15 years .
Calling for the overthrow of the government is codified under Article 136 of Qatar's penal code,and it calls for life sentence .
Learn more about the CASE .
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Dolphin and seal show in Doha spring festival -review
It is more than 15 years now that I saw a seal show in Austria . They were amazing ,playful ,cheerful animals and they touched my heart .This seal show in Doha included two seals only and perhaps ten minutes .They were lovely but I expected something more .
The real stars were the dolphins here . During 40 minutes they were entertaining us . They played with balls ,with rings and swam with their tamers . The young man was very brave - the dolphins pushed him up in the air or pushed him ashore .These are quite heavy creatures and it was frightening to see how they threw this man out of the pool . The show was what you expect from a circus . No more no less .
Tickets were sold just before the show .It went very slowly . I wish they sold in advance as well .It was difficult to find the place and find out the info about buying a ticket .
P. S. there was a strange incident during the show .. a bird flew very fast very close to us then suddenly changed its direction in a sharp angle and flew away but it came back minimum three times .. what the heck it might have been ? It made the same with the audience of the opposite site .Was it a real bird ?
The real stars were the dolphins here . During 40 minutes they were entertaining us . They played with balls ,with rings and swam with their tamers . The young man was very brave - the dolphins pushed him up in the air or pushed him ashore .These are quite heavy creatures and it was frightening to see how they threw this man out of the pool . The show was what you expect from a circus . No more no less .
Tickets were sold just before the show .It went very slowly . I wish they sold in advance as well .It was difficult to find the place and find out the info about buying a ticket .
P. S. there was a strange incident during the show .. a bird flew very fast very close to us then suddenly changed its direction in a sharp angle and flew away but it came back minimum three times .. what the heck it might have been ? It made the same with the audience of the opposite site .Was it a real bird ?
hat and fashion contest at the horse races
Ladies ! You can show your stylish side now ! Wear your best hat and outfit and go to the Al Rayyan race track on the 28 February 2013 . You can register between 12:30 pm and 1:30 .At 4:30 the prizes will be given .
the first two prizes will be a steel ,gold and diamond watch but many other prizes will be given as well .To learn more about this event consult this website .
the first two prizes will be a steel ,gold and diamond watch but many other prizes will be given as well .To learn more about this event consult this website .
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Giant Soccer Ball in Qatar - New Guinness record
Qatar has been always seeking to set a new world record .Previously the world's largest cake was made here and now a giant soccer ball was built .
Its diameter is 40 feet and it is displayed somewhere in the country - but I have not seen it yet .Do you know where is it ?
Saturday, February 16, 2013
My first yard sale experience
I have never tried to sell anything at a yard sale . In my country the tax office make this innocent way of making money very difficult .This year when I saw Doha Mum's yard sale I thought I would try . Why not ? The kids wanted it very much - it is holiday for them and their happiness makes me happy .
It was very hard work to select the items / clean them and labeling them .I selected toys for girls and boys and a lots of clothes for females .I included brand names as well hoping that it would attract shoppers .
It was a nice sunny spring day - we arrived just before 12 . Everything was organized very well . Someone from the organizers even was carrying our heavy boxes to the spot .The spot itself was generously large place in the yard .( I had seen places before with very small tables )My friend borrowed me a tall clothes dryer to hang the clothes on . We turned our big boxes into tables .Hanged the clothes and the rest of the things went on the blankets . Everything was fine and relaxed - green grass ,hedges singing birds . The sellers were looking around and shopping from each other .
Then at one o'clock the gates were opened for shoppers . Suddenly a lots of people around us .I want this I want that . Take the money - I will take this . Can you give back from 500 qr ? I felt dizzy .It seemed that many people came to make a bargain .Originally I thought that my nine year old would do the selling but the rush was too big and was hard to handle even for me .
After half an hour it became normal and the last one hour was rather slow . Most people were very nice and lovely . Some shoppers wanted me to reduce the prices to very low and they were aggressive when asking for it . But they were only a few .
I was happy including a lots of very small toys for one rial - it attracted many little guys to our place .I felt sorry that I did not bring plastic bags for shoppers . Most of them wanted one . About clothes - it seemed that brand names did not attract people . I should have highlighted the size and the age of kids rather than brands . I did not expect working class men looking for cheap clothes . I had thought that it was a middle class event and I felt sorry that I did not include my husband clothes that he wanted to give away anyway .
All in all it was a nice experience . We sold a lots of things and brought back a lot . I found some " treasures" for ourselves among our own stuff as well . There were a lots of baby clothes on sale and other stuff for kids but for bigger kids the selection of clothes was limited and clothes for men were only a few .Much more ladies wear . Most of the shoppers were American looking / Phillipinos / very few Indians ,Pakistanis and expat Arabs .
At the food section there were fun cup cakes , waffle , some Asian and Arab dishes for sale .
Leaving the place was not so simple as only four cars were allowed into the yard at a time .So as we were short of time we had to carry out our boxes from the yard to the parking .It was OK .
It was very hard work to select the items / clean them and labeling them .I selected toys for girls and boys and a lots of clothes for females .I included brand names as well hoping that it would attract shoppers .
It was a nice sunny spring day - we arrived just before 12 . Everything was organized very well . Someone from the organizers even was carrying our heavy boxes to the spot .The spot itself was generously large place in the yard .( I had seen places before with very small tables )My friend borrowed me a tall clothes dryer to hang the clothes on . We turned our big boxes into tables .Hanged the clothes and the rest of the things went on the blankets . Everything was fine and relaxed - green grass ,hedges singing birds . The sellers were looking around and shopping from each other .
Then at one o'clock the gates were opened for shoppers . Suddenly a lots of people around us .I want this I want that . Take the money - I will take this . Can you give back from 500 qr ? I felt dizzy .It seemed that many people came to make a bargain .Originally I thought that my nine year old would do the selling but the rush was too big and was hard to handle even for me .
After half an hour it became normal and the last one hour was rather slow . Most people were very nice and lovely . Some shoppers wanted me to reduce the prices to very low and they were aggressive when asking for it . But they were only a few .
I was happy including a lots of very small toys for one rial - it attracted many little guys to our place .I felt sorry that I did not bring plastic bags for shoppers . Most of them wanted one . About clothes - it seemed that brand names did not attract people . I should have highlighted the size and the age of kids rather than brands . I did not expect working class men looking for cheap clothes . I had thought that it was a middle class event and I felt sorry that I did not include my husband clothes that he wanted to give away anyway .
All in all it was a nice experience . We sold a lots of things and brought back a lot . I found some " treasures" for ourselves among our own stuff as well . There were a lots of baby clothes on sale and other stuff for kids but for bigger kids the selection of clothes was limited and clothes for men were only a few .Much more ladies wear . Most of the shoppers were American looking / Phillipinos / very few Indians ,Pakistanis and expat Arabs .
At the food section there were fun cup cakes , waffle , some Asian and Arab dishes for sale .
Leaving the place was not so simple as only four cars were allowed into the yard at a time .So as we were short of time we had to carry out our boxes from the yard to the parking .It was OK .
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
souq waqif -spring festival doha 2013
Spring festival ... how nice ! My kids happen to have spring holidays .I can take them to a dolphin show ! I can't believe it!Magic show ! The favorite of my four grader ... other events seem to be extraordinary as well .Like human canon ball ,bungee jump ,thrilling air drive ,smurf's kids village .They promise live theater shows, carnival rides and many other amazing surprises, as well as daily concerts and folk band performances.
It is not clear which event needs ticket and how to buy . I plan to update here -as soon as I get information .
Date: Feb 7 - 21, 2013
Location: Souq Waqif
UPDATE : the free events started around four and six pm - they included magician show /African acrobats /traditional dances / brass band with bagpipe band
the tickets for the dolphin show can be bought from today or tomorrow at the ticket office near the Gold souq - 25 rial for kids 50 for adults - at least this was the information I got at the souq's information center
Doha Mum's Yard Sale - members or not members
Anyone can come and sell or shop to Doha Mum's Club annual yard sale .
Please read the details here on their flyer :
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Hungarian politician in Qatar
Shall we have some Hungarian food product here in Doha ? Peter Szijjarto was negotiating with top officals of Hassad Food as well .
Monday, January 28, 2013
It is spring in Qatar
It is spring in Qatar . We might have some cold spells in February but it is usually like April in Europe .Yesterday it was sunny ,warm and no wind . I live in an old part of the city where you can find a lots of trees . Birds were singing so cheerfully . Today it was cloudy and a bit windy in the morning . Birds were still singing but not so happily . However I think winter with cold winds lasted only ten days .
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Arabian breakfast - ful ma gubn
We had this traditional Middle Eastern working class breakfast when we ventured into a working class restaurant in Al-Wakra .
It is fava bean puree with chickpeas and cheese ( perhaps feta ) and tomato dices . We had to admit that the working class eats really tasty and healthy dishes here in Qatar . (I would not say the same much about their toilets .)
See how to make the dish .
It is fava bean puree with chickpeas and cheese ( perhaps feta ) and tomato dices . We had to admit that the working class eats really tasty and healthy dishes here in Qatar . (I would not say the same much about their toilets .)
See how to make the dish .
Monday, January 21, 2013
Qatar Airways the favorite airline of the Hungarians
Qatar Airways has become the favorite airline of the Hungarians, The survey called " Az en legitarsasagom " ( my airline 2012 ) was organised by the largest Hungarian online ticket seller agency .
The same Middle Eastern company was the winner in the category of the service value for money as well. In brief , the Turkish Airlines became the second and the Dutch KLM the third . 88 percent of the participants of the survey evaluated a private travel and 12 percent business travel .
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Numbers in Qatar - Population
Who are the people who live in Qatar ?What is the proportion of different nationalities ?
Reading an infographic I learned that only 15 % of the population is Qatari.
Roughly there are 1,800,000 people in the country
24% Indian
16% Nepali
15% Qatari
13% Arabs ( non Qatari )
11% Filippino
7 % other ( westerners -latinos )
5% Sri Lankan
5% Bangladeshi
Reading an infographic I learned that only 15 % of the population is Qatari.
Roughly there are 1,800,000 people in the country
24% Indian
16% Nepali
15% Qatari
13% Arabs ( non Qatari )
11% Filippino
7 % other ( westerners -latinos )
5% Sri Lankan
5% Bangladeshi
Friday, January 18, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
a trip to Dubai may be risky
A Hungarian lady living and working in Qatar just complained to me . Her December trip to Dubai Atlantis with her child failed as she was not allowed to enter Dubai . We were discussing it trying to find out the reason : perhaps the Hungarian Prime Minister's latest visit to Dubai did not turn out well .... it can be that ladies alone with a child without male family members are not allowed .... then we read this article in the Gulf - Times . It turned out that the same thing happened to several Qataris and other GCC residents in the recent weeks . The reason is unkown ...
Monday, January 14, 2013
how to make karak
This cold windy weather calls for a hot drink ! Karak is a kind of spicy oriental tea which is very popular in Qatar
It is always sweet and comes with milk .
Basically it is strong tea cooked with cardamom seeds and sugar then creamy milk added
Recipe : 1 boil water
2 add loose tea ( Wizza tea is preferred by the locals) 1 teaspoonful/cup
3 add cardamom seeds and sugar accordng to your taste keep boiling them for some minutes
4 pour it into cups and let it set for some minutes
5finally add some creamy milk ( rainbow milk is preferred by many )
the tea -milk proportion is also a question of taste
the result is a velvety /smooth hot drink with spicy oriental touch
there is a simple way to get your karak - simply make strong tea then add the canned tea-milk which is already flavoured with cardamom seeds
I this your cup of tea ?
Vintage Happy Man Drinking Giant Cup of Coffee Posters by YesterdayCafe
Search for another posters online at Zazzle
It is always sweet and comes with milk .
Basically it is strong tea cooked with cardamom seeds and sugar then creamy milk added
Recipe : 1 boil water
2 add loose tea ( Wizza tea is preferred by the locals) 1 teaspoonful/cup
3 add cardamom seeds and sugar accordng to your taste keep boiling them for some minutes
4 pour it into cups and let it set for some minutes
5finally add some creamy milk ( rainbow milk is preferred by many )
the tea -milk proportion is also a question of taste
the result is a velvety /smooth hot drink with spicy oriental touch
there is a simple way to get your karak - simply make strong tea then add the canned tea-milk which is already flavoured with cardamom seeds
I this your cup of tea ?
Vintage Happy Man Drinking Giant Cup of Coffee Posters by YesterdayCafe
Search for another posters online at Zazzle
Sunday, January 13, 2013
It is cold in Qatar
It is cold in Qatar . 16 C at night and strong /cold wind blowing .
We went at the weekend to an expensive restaurant ... there were no heaters there either - we were sitting in a place where the cold wind blew on us at every time - the door was opened .
No heaters at my kids schools /kindergarten either / nor at the office of my husband .
I saw workers in the streets wearing slippers .Barefoot .
The local authorities started to speak about flu epidemic .... we are out of it - I hope - but it was not easy to be cured .
I am getting introverted in this weather - I like staying at home with a hot drink and reading something/watching an old movie .... It feels like home ...
We went at the weekend to an expensive restaurant ... there were no heaters there either - we were sitting in a place where the cold wind blew on us at every time - the door was opened .
No heaters at my kids schools /kindergarten either / nor at the office of my husband .
I saw workers in the streets wearing slippers .Barefoot .
The local authorities started to speak about flu epidemic .... we are out of it - I hope - but it was not easy to be cured .
I am getting introverted in this weather - I like staying at home with a hot drink and reading something/watching an old movie .... It feels like home ...
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Umm Kulthum Hologram Concert
ND Productions created this uber sensational, nostalgic performance by a hologram of Kawkab al Sharq Um Kulthum at the launch event of MBC Egypt in Cairo with hundreds of Arab actors, singers, directors, producers and media persons.
ND was asked to generate full 6 minutes of Kawkab al Sharq performing live on stage appearing to be alive, giving the audience a wonderful and breathtaking experience.
ND was able to restore her footage from a 40 years old recording and resurrecting her soul on stage.
Monday, January 07, 2013
healing ginger lemon honey into your tea
You will need : A small glass jars with lid
1 lemon, sliced (preferably organic)
honey
Sliced ginger (equal amounts of lemon)
(Hot water for tea)
How to make it
Put the the sliced lemon and ginger into the jar, pour the honey on them. Put it into the refrigerator. A few days later it is ready .
Add 1 teaspoon of it into your tea - not too hot -for the honey's enzymes would be preserved .
Source: Eva Horvath
down with flu
I do not know why but some people think that the warmer countries like Qatar are not affected by the yearly flu epidemic .In fact there is flu here as well .The Al Sadd emergency reported last week a daily 1700 little patients seeking help with flu like symptoms .A record number which can be due to the fact that some health centers closed for the expat families and operate for the locals only .
Home remedies are rarely suggested by doctors .At the supermarkets one can buy herbal infusions or baby tea granulates .My kids love drinking the one in the blue jar ...At the Hyatt plaza there is a TEA SHOP selling a lots of kinds of herbal infusion ...Linden tree blossom is something that every doctor would suggest in my country in case of flu .
Home remedies are rarely suggested by doctors .At the supermarkets one can buy herbal infusions or baby tea granulates .My kids love drinking the one in the blue jar ...At the Hyatt plaza there is a TEA SHOP selling a lots of kinds of herbal infusion ...Linden tree blossom is something that every doctor would suggest in my country in case of flu .
Friday, January 04, 2013
Happy New Year
Thank you all my readers for visiting my blog in 2012 ! Have a Happy 2013 and keep coming !
Winter holidays in Doha
IT was so quiet in Doha last week .It seems that many people left for winter holidays . There was not much festive atmosphere here expect for the five star hotels .So many people rather left the country to celebrate in the Emirates or at their home .
Ten years ago when we arrived to Doha we were pleasantly surprised at the sight of the Xmas trees in the malls .Then some three years ago those artificial trees disappeared .It had disturbed the native population .They see in the tree the symbol of Christianity .When it has nothing to do with the Christians . It is a winter decoration in Europe /North America ...to cheer people up during the dark winter days .
On the other hand this is the first time that my husband got a day-off for New Year and my child going to an Arabic school got a day-off as well for the first time ...
Ten years ago when we arrived we liked winter holidays here .It was not so bad to spend the days outside at the family park /women's park in Muntazah .. since the those parks have been closed for unknown reasons .We liked the festive selection of products at the supermarkets .Then a day while walking along the Corniche we saw a jazz band playing and singing by the sea . There was a winter festival that year in the city .
Ten years ago when we arrived to Doha we were pleasantly surprised at the sight of the Xmas trees in the malls .Then some three years ago those artificial trees disappeared .It had disturbed the native population .They see in the tree the symbol of Christianity .When it has nothing to do with the Christians . It is a winter decoration in Europe /North America ...to cheer people up during the dark winter days .
On the other hand this is the first time that my husband got a day-off for New Year and my child going to an Arabic school got a day-off as well for the first time ...
Ten years ago when we arrived we liked winter holidays here .It was not so bad to spend the days outside at the family park /women's park in Muntazah .. since the those parks have been closed for unknown reasons .We liked the festive selection of products at the supermarkets .Then a day while walking along the Corniche we saw a jazz band playing and singing by the sea . There was a winter festival that year in the city .
Monday, December 24, 2012
Peace to the World
My wishes for the holiday season PEACE for each and every good person -in small country in big country may their days be great !
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Doomsdays in our Life
I remember a cold November day in 1999 in Hungary .My friend came to see me and she was anxiously talking about the end of the world in 2000 .She was so much worried and I tried to see her point of view . I tried to explain her two things:
1. If the world really comes to its end then there is not much we can do -useless to worry
2.Calendars are made by humans - this 2000 is a nice number but it is totally different in other cultures
The sad truth is that the world would go on as it is . And we have to figure out and fight for a better one .The sad truth is that the world will not change -we will be exploited like before /we will have to worry about keeping our badly paid jobs .
Sometimes I feel that people wish in secret the end . That would solve many things -they think.
My mum told me that in 1959 there was an end of the world panic among villagers as well . The catholic church was the main source of this scare . Some priests even declared that the church service they hold is the last one ...
No wonder that it is coming from them - they are expert in it . Keeping the masses in fear during centuries .
Other fear mongers are the media who can exploit people's ignorance very easily .
Other "doomsday" I can remember was the solar eclipse in Hungary . I went out to the nature to witness it in its full beauty .I saw the sky turning into dark violet - then the sun and the moon covering and the "diamond ring" shape then I saw the moon so close and so much detailed that I could imagine that only in films . It was a spiritually uplifting experience .A great thing -when I returned to our town then I was shocked that some people were crying that it was the sign of the end of the world .I just felt sorry for them ...
Have a Happy December 21 !
1. If the world really comes to its end then there is not much we can do -useless to worry
2.Calendars are made by humans - this 2000 is a nice number but it is totally different in other cultures
The sad truth is that the world would go on as it is . And we have to figure out and fight for a better one .The sad truth is that the world will not change -we will be exploited like before /we will have to worry about keeping our badly paid jobs .
Sometimes I feel that people wish in secret the end . That would solve many things -they think.
My mum told me that in 1959 there was an end of the world panic among villagers as well . The catholic church was the main source of this scare . Some priests even declared that the church service they hold is the last one ...
No wonder that it is coming from them - they are expert in it . Keeping the masses in fear during centuries .
Other fear mongers are the media who can exploit people's ignorance very easily .
Other "doomsday" I can remember was the solar eclipse in Hungary . I went out to the nature to witness it in its full beauty .I saw the sky turning into dark violet - then the sun and the moon covering and the "diamond ring" shape then I saw the moon so close and so much detailed that I could imagine that only in films . It was a spiritually uplifting experience .A great thing -when I returned to our town then I was shocked that some people were crying that it was the sign of the end of the world .I just felt sorry for them ...
Have a Happy December 21 !
Monday, December 17, 2012
Qatar national Day 2012
If you decided to go out this year to participate at the National Day's celebrations then you can choose from a wide variety of programs and events .The main venues will be The Corniche ,Darb al Saii ,The Palm island ,Sheraton Park . There will be exhibitions /kids activities /The National Parade / old boats/ fireworks and many more things to see and do ... you can read more on the official page
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
a child drown again
Drowning into the swimming pool .Drowning into the sea . Drowning into a bucket of water . The leading cause of death among children in Qatar . Watch out ! Your children might be in danger . The other day a six year old Indian boy drowned into their compound swimming pool .As most of the pools it was without lifeguard without fence . He was seen riding his bike nearby ... I guess not every case is reported - but basically every compound with swimming pool is a danger . Even if you let out your kids just for riding or playing with the other kids .
How many death will teach a lesson and authorities force the compound owners to build a fence and pay a guard ?
Personally I am against these private swimming pools .compound pools . They are too small for the whole compound /they are usually not clean enough . I think it would be much better if every district in Doha had its own swimming center for children for adults with hours for ladies only with professional lifeguards .
How many death will teach a lesson and authorities force the compound owners to build a fence and pay a guard ?
Personally I am against these private swimming pools .compound pools . They are too small for the whole compound /they are usually not clean enough . I think it would be much better if every district in Doha had its own swimming center for children for adults with hours for ladies only with professional lifeguards .
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Philippino waiters /shop assistants
I hate going out when I know I have to deal with waitresses and shop assistants from the Philippines .
Some of them are nice and really professionals - but the rest of them is only someone who thinks that it is enough to smile and after they can do whatever they wish to do .
it happened to me that the product agent at the supermarket told me " hi mam , are you pregnant ?"
-it is not your business I thought but I suppressed this sentence in me with a polite "No" .. but it was not enough she came after me with a product and kept talking to me as I was pregnant .Finally I had to tell her in a dry voice" leave me alone " for she understands ...
Another time I went to a quite expensive clothes shop and left there some money . Then she made herself as she wants to be kind to me ..."Mam , you remind me my mother -she is like you exactly- and she was showing round shapes with her hand " ... if she was someone in her twenties then it was not a big deal but she was minimum 35 ...so I am like her mom ...my friend from Abu Dabhi said their shop assistants also love asking about the " madame's age" then commenting not nicely about that .
If you are a man you might never experience similar things - just the opposite - the same women who like to comment negatively about their female customers are too much polite with men especially if they have the slightest smell of money ... it is just funny to see how differently the same person is talking to me and to my husband ...last time when serving the coffee the waitress leaned so close to my hubby that it seemed as a ridiculous offer from her part/if i were a jealous type I would have slapped her for openly trying to flirt with him ... but I just laughed in myself ... and I can not understand these women .. how can they lower themselves so much ... what do they hope at all ?
Some of them are nice and really professionals - but the rest of them is only someone who thinks that it is enough to smile and after they can do whatever they wish to do .
it happened to me that the product agent at the supermarket told me " hi mam , are you pregnant ?"
-it is not your business I thought but I suppressed this sentence in me with a polite "No" .. but it was not enough she came after me with a product and kept talking to me as I was pregnant .Finally I had to tell her in a dry voice" leave me alone " for she understands ...
Another time I went to a quite expensive clothes shop and left there some money . Then she made herself as she wants to be kind to me ..."Mam , you remind me my mother -she is like you exactly- and she was showing round shapes with her hand " ... if she was someone in her twenties then it was not a big deal but she was minimum 35 ...so I am like her mom ...my friend from Abu Dabhi said their shop assistants also love asking about the " madame's age" then commenting not nicely about that .
If you are a man you might never experience similar things - just the opposite - the same women who like to comment negatively about their female customers are too much polite with men especially if they have the slightest smell of money ... it is just funny to see how differently the same person is talking to me and to my husband ...last time when serving the coffee the waitress leaned so close to my hubby that it seemed as a ridiculous offer from her part/if i were a jealous type I would have slapped her for openly trying to flirt with him ... but I just laughed in myself ... and I can not understand these women .. how can they lower themselves so much ... what do they hope at all ?
Monday, December 10, 2012
"Qatar National Day" Photography Competition
capture some amazing moments on 18th December 2012 Qatar National day and send it to
reggie@regencyholidays.com.
to participate you must be amateur photographer
you must be a fan here
1st Prize : Return Flight Doha- London-Doha.
-2nd Prize: Return Flight to Doha-Amman-Doha.
-3rd Prize: Return Flight to Doha-Dubai-Doha.
reggie@regencyholidays.com.
to participate you must be amateur photographer
you must be a fan here
1st Prize : Return Flight Doha- London-Doha.
-2nd Prize: Return Flight to Doha-Amman-Doha.
-3rd Prize: Return Flight to Doha-Dubai-Doha.
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Being dizzy ? You can wait ....
This is a true life story that has happened to me here in Qatar . A comedy in four scenes / scene one
a hot August day in Doha/Qatar
the Hungarian woman in Qatar feels very dizzy in the morning - the slightest position changes causes nausea - she is suffering at home and tries not to move AT ALL
scene two
somehow she gets to the Hamad hospital emergency / her heart is checked - it is OK / her head is shaken very much by a doctora - but she does not feel dizzier than before - so the lovely doctora claims that it is her ears that may cause the problem
she submitted a paper for appointment - but she did not think it was an urgent case
this way the patient got an appointment with ENT specialist only after 3 months
scene three
the poor sick woman having suffered from dizziness for three days - tries home remedy - as her ears had been mentioned /she is sucking candies and chewing gums - she is feeling better and better - a day after this home cure dizziness had gone ..
scene four
the big day of the appointment came - the patient goes to the Hammad hospital out patient clinic - she tries to renew her health card first - she is waiting in a wrong line " this is here just for registration " no sign at all .. so she is waiting at another window ... only cash here ( no sign about that either ) ... so she goes to the ATM she grabs the cash waits again for her turn when she gets her renewed health card ... she rushes to the ENT doctor / she waits again at a window / she pays for the visit she goes to another counter just to learn that she was late and the doctor refuses to see her .The nurses were very nice they tried to persuade the doctor that this is a first time patient who does not know the rules here and who will have to wait a lot for a new appointment .Again 3 months . But the doctor did not accept their reasoning . So she has to look for a supervisor who will stamp a paper and she has to wait again at a window( for a fifth time that morning) to get back her cash ... Now she should go the Health Center ( another part of the city ) and explain a doctor what has happened to her and to her appointment - but she is too tired and anyway - the dizziness came and left three months ago ...she just hopes that it was nothing serious and in her free time when her children are sleeping she tries and educates herself about home remedies and she is reading the personal accounts of other people who had tried cures that work ...
THE END
a hot August day in Doha/Qatar
the Hungarian woman in Qatar feels very dizzy in the morning - the slightest position changes causes nausea - she is suffering at home and tries not to move AT ALL
scene two
somehow she gets to the Hamad hospital emergency / her heart is checked - it is OK / her head is shaken very much by a doctora - but she does not feel dizzier than before - so the lovely doctora claims that it is her ears that may cause the problem
she submitted a paper for appointment - but she did not think it was an urgent case
this way the patient got an appointment with ENT specialist only after 3 months
scene three
the poor sick woman having suffered from dizziness for three days - tries home remedy - as her ears had been mentioned /she is sucking candies and chewing gums - she is feeling better and better - a day after this home cure dizziness had gone ..
scene four
the big day of the appointment came - the patient goes to the Hammad hospital out patient clinic - she tries to renew her health card first - she is waiting in a wrong line " this is here just for registration " no sign at all .. so she is waiting at another window ... only cash here ( no sign about that either ) ... so she goes to the ATM she grabs the cash waits again for her turn when she gets her renewed health card ... she rushes to the ENT doctor / she waits again at a window / she pays for the visit she goes to another counter just to learn that she was late and the doctor refuses to see her .The nurses were very nice they tried to persuade the doctor that this is a first time patient who does not know the rules here and who will have to wait a lot for a new appointment .Again 3 months . But the doctor did not accept their reasoning . So she has to look for a supervisor who will stamp a paper and she has to wait again at a window( for a fifth time that morning) to get back her cash ... Now she should go the Health Center ( another part of the city ) and explain a doctor what has happened to her and to her appointment - but she is too tired and anyway - the dizziness came and left three months ago ...she just hopes that it was nothing serious and in her free time when her children are sleeping she tries and educates herself about home remedies and she is reading the personal accounts of other people who had tried cures that work ...
THE END
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
Numbers in Abu Dhabi - nine million
Nine million trees were planted in Abu Dhabi during the rule of Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed .
No wonder that this city got an award of the best liveable city in the world in 2012 .
No wonder that this city got an award of the best liveable city in the world in 2012 .
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Doctors and errors and the level of HMC
Error is human . No doctor is always right . But in the last ten years I have witnessed how the level of medical workforce dropped sharply . In my view the main reason for that is the famous slogan of this country " If you don't like something you can leave this country "
Contrary to this belief it is not easy to find a good specialist at all . This fact is reflected in the complaints of many locals and residents in the Qatar Radio program . Malpractice ,error .I can tell you stories from our family . Eight years ago our toddler slipped in the kitchen and had a big fall .She fainted and she was unconscious for some minutes . Then every help was given for us at HMC .Observation ,X-ray etc . Four years later another toddler of ours bumped his head seriously - he was even bleeding .But no x- ray , no observation was given .Only a bandage on his wound and such remarks " some kids fall from the second floor and they survive , do not worry " .... thank you doctor .. and some kids fall in the room and they happen to die ...we turned to private doctor to be sure that his skull was not broken .
Another time one of my relatives went to a private eye -clinic with pain in the eye . She could see a serious condition at once when looking into the eyes . The private doctor suggested HMC for eye surgery - as it is nearly free . It is a wonderful thing that the most modern laser surgeries are made at nominal fee .But the HMC eye specialist did not see any problem " Your eyes are healthy " come back after half year . Unfortunately , he believed the false good news and when he returned after half year the other specialist was terrified seeing the eye in question and sent him urgently to be operated .
For the newcomers : HMC = Hamad Medical Corporation a government run large hospital
you must have a health card to get services there ( 100 rial per year )
It has got a lots of specialists and modern equipment ... and it is not always working perfectly ...
Contrary to this belief it is not easy to find a good specialist at all . This fact is reflected in the complaints of many locals and residents in the Qatar Radio program . Malpractice ,error .I can tell you stories from our family . Eight years ago our toddler slipped in the kitchen and had a big fall .She fainted and she was unconscious for some minutes . Then every help was given for us at HMC .Observation ,X-ray etc . Four years later another toddler of ours bumped his head seriously - he was even bleeding .But no x- ray , no observation was given .Only a bandage on his wound and such remarks " some kids fall from the second floor and they survive , do not worry " .... thank you doctor .. and some kids fall in the room and they happen to die ...we turned to private doctor to be sure that his skull was not broken .
Another time one of my relatives went to a private eye -clinic with pain in the eye . She could see a serious condition at once when looking into the eyes . The private doctor suggested HMC for eye surgery - as it is nearly free . It is a wonderful thing that the most modern laser surgeries are made at nominal fee .But the HMC eye specialist did not see any problem " Your eyes are healthy " come back after half year . Unfortunately , he believed the false good news and when he returned after half year the other specialist was terrified seeing the eye in question and sent him urgently to be operated .
For the newcomers : HMC = Hamad Medical Corporation a government run large hospital
you must have a health card to get services there ( 100 rial per year )
It has got a lots of specialists and modern equipment ... and it is not always working perfectly ...
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
CHILDREN'S ART COMPETITION
"Airplanes flying to the moon? Spaceships floating acrosss the universe? Flying cars? Let your imagination fly and make a drawing that reflects the theme "The Future of Travel"
For children between age five and twelve
DEADLINE 15TH DECEMBER 2012
Prizes - five kids will be chosen with their parents to travel to Zurich Kindercity
Learn more about this exciting competition here /
For children between age five and twelve
DEADLINE 15TH DECEMBER 2012
Prizes - five kids will be chosen with their parents to travel to Zurich Kindercity
Learn more about this exciting competition here /
Monday, November 26, 2012
It was a security guard who murdered a woman in Qatar
I was astonished to read in the local daily that a forty year old American teacher was killed . Jennifer
Brown was teaching at Al Wakra Campus of English Modern School . What is more disturbing that the killer was a
security guard .... He is from Kenya .Ten days ago it happened - this is the first time I hear about it ...
Brown was teaching at Al Wakra Campus of English Modern School . What is more disturbing that the killer was a
security guard .... He is from Kenya .Ten days ago it happened - this is the first time I hear about it ...
Is Qatar a green-minded country ?
YES - 22 % of the country's land is a protected area by the ministry of environment
- it protects and reintroduces rare fish species and their coral habitat
- seasonal sea turtle grounds are protected
- protecting dugongs -sea animals
NOT so much - the nationals of Qatar use the water and electricity free and the per person usage is the largest in the world
Qatar does not have a plan to reduce its emissions
Cars are used extensively - and only little effort was made to turn the city buses into a family friendly mean of transportation
- it protects and reintroduces rare fish species and their coral habitat
- seasonal sea turtle grounds are protected
- protecting dugongs -sea animals
NOT so much - the nationals of Qatar use the water and electricity free and the per person usage is the largest in the world
Qatar does not have a plan to reduce its emissions
Cars are used extensively - and only little effort was made to turn the city buses into a family friendly mean of transportation
Saturday, November 24, 2012
So the festival is over
The last Day of the film festival was the best one for us . The festival's family programs started early on Saturday at two in the afternoon .We were sitting in the terrace of an affordable place and we were having our lunch while the weather was just perfect and the jazz groups were preparing for their performances . The kids repeated all the quest again and collected all the stamps they needed just to get some very little prize .... some kind of plastic bracelet with florescent liquid in ....
But all in all that afternoon was very nice . We need more festivals like that . Doha really went multicultural and we saw performing many different nations living here ....my favorite was an Indonesian pop group .They were all so innocent looking teenagers and they played wonderfully .. The singer was wearing hijab - in Qatar anything is possible....
I have only one request to the organizers -please arrange some school holidays during the festival to be able to join the screenings during weekdays as well !
But all in all that afternoon was very nice . We need more festivals like that . Doha really went multicultural and we saw performing many different nations living here ....my favorite was an Indonesian pop group .They were all so innocent looking teenagers and they played wonderfully .. The singer was wearing hijab - in Qatar anything is possible....
I have only one request to the organizers -please arrange some school holidays during the festival to be able to join the screenings during weekdays as well !
Friday, November 23, 2012
Family Day at DTFF 2012
It was quite crowdy at the Katara on Friday .There was a huge selection of programs ...glowing kites were dancing over the sea - huge stilt walker butterflies were walking among us -the smell of the kebab and shawarma filled the area - two stages with different performers - drummers/jazz /Arabic jazz or something like that (wonderful ) classical Indian dance and Bollywood dance / acrobats .school kids performing / local talents / or just sitting in the sand of the beach and watching ET .It was a real fiesta where Doha residents and the visitors could relax and celebrate the wonderful end of the November ...
My kids were playing in the sand /playing golf /doing different craft projects /making up the a story for a film and giving a real interview about that :) dancing in a group spontaneously ... they were photographed and they were made feel that they were real stars ...
However not everything went wonderfully . The eighty percent of the volunteers were very ignorant and uninterested in their job . We tried to find out at the information desk which films were on for kids that day /"I really do not know" -try to find it in this booklet was the answer ...another thing that made me very upset was the stamp collecting game ... kids had to go from place to place to do different things and get a stamp...now my eight-year-old wanted to collect those stamps ... but we did not know where to go exactly ... during two hours we kept asking different volunteers about the places where she could get her missing two stamps - but no one could answer ... finally we returned to the first station with the kites and there two guys were better informed than the former ones and they told us that it was at the beach football field . That made me very angry because we had been there before and asking about the stamps but nobody knew anything about that .So finally she got all her stamps -it was around nine o'clock - she ran to the prizes kiosk to collect her prize then she got two balloons only because "sorry - we ran out of the real prizes = you came too late " it was very upsetting as we were informed that the festival was on until midnight ...
The food - there were some small stalls by the beach selling kebab /fish and chips /crepe /chapati and that is it .. There was a huge crowd and I can't afford standing there with two little kids half an hour ... so we were starving there . . I think that they should be better prepared next year for feeding so many people ...
My kids were playing in the sand /playing golf /doing different craft projects /making up the a story for a film and giving a real interview about that :) dancing in a group spontaneously ... they were photographed and they were made feel that they were real stars ...
However not everything went wonderfully . The eighty percent of the volunteers were very ignorant and uninterested in their job . We tried to find out at the information desk which films were on for kids that day /"I really do not know" -try to find it in this booklet was the answer ...another thing that made me very upset was the stamp collecting game ... kids had to go from place to place to do different things and get a stamp...now my eight-year-old wanted to collect those stamps ... but we did not know where to go exactly ... during two hours we kept asking different volunteers about the places where she could get her missing two stamps - but no one could answer ... finally we returned to the first station with the kites and there two guys were better informed than the former ones and they told us that it was at the beach football field . That made me very angry because we had been there before and asking about the stamps but nobody knew anything about that .So finally she got all her stamps -it was around nine o'clock - she ran to the prizes kiosk to collect her prize then she got two balloons only because "sorry - we ran out of the real prizes = you came too late " it was very upsetting as we were informed that the festival was on until midnight ...
The food - there were some small stalls by the beach selling kebab /fish and chips /crepe /chapati and that is it .. There was a huge crowd and I can't afford standing there with two little kids half an hour ... so we were starving there . . I think that they should be better prepared next year for feeding so many people ...
Monday, November 19, 2012
A Hungarian make up artist in Doha
Blanca Paloma Montenegro - a Hungarian make up artist just started
the other day a 5 days Masterclass Course on the protestic Cinema Makeup.It is right here in Doha . How exciting !You can see her with a well-fed zombie -her creation ...
Indian Films at Doha Tribeca Film festival
Till I breath this life -Yas Chopra romance
Venue :Souq Waqif -Al Rayyan theatre
Tuesday , 20 November
from 7 pm 175 minutes
The Brave hearted will take the bride -Aditya Chopra romantic comedy
Venue : Katara -Sony Open Air Cinema
Wednesday ,21 November
from 8 pm 189 minutes
Venue :Souq Waqif -Al Rayyan theatre
Tuesday , 20 November
from 7 pm 175 minutes
The Brave hearted will take the bride -Aditya Chopra romantic comedy
Venue : Katara -Sony Open Air Cinema
Wednesday ,21 November
from 8 pm 189 minutes
Bollywood Goes To Budapest
Bollywood goes to Budapest to shoot films ... the Hero is thrown into the Danube but survives and one can see the beautiful sights of the city and the less attractive ones ... all of it was made to advertise a motorbike
Enjoy the video - it is a full story - told in less than four minutes ...
Enjoy the video - it is a full story - told in less than four minutes ...
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Robert de Niro was the VIP guest of the opening ceremony at Doha Tribeca Film Festival.It did not cheer me up . I do not like him . Last year it was Banderas who came .It is difficult to find someone more popular than Antonio . But the film festival should be about films and not only about the stars .
So far I did not see any trailers which would attract me to any film .
So far I did not see any trailers which would attract me to any film .
Saturday, November 17, 2012
When a sport woman turns out to be someone else
Pinki Pramanik is an Indian woman who won women's relay gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha .
After that she had gone to a number of international events . What so special about her ? It turned out she is a man .She/he happened to rape her/his room mate . Well ,well I can not even imagine how these gender tests take place . They must be quite embarrassing ...and now it is
After that she had gone to a number of international events . What so special about her ? It turned out she is a man .She/he happened to rape her/his room mate . Well ,well I can not even imagine how these gender tests take place . They must be quite embarrassing ...and now it is
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Military Exercise in Qatar
Do not panic if you stumble upon troops in the streets of Doha in the coming days .It is only a three day military exercise . Do not get shocked to see if you see soldiers of other GCC countries - it is only part of all that .Do cooperate and let the troops pass was the advice of the local daily today .
I could not believe my eyes when reading that . But I did not stumble upon any soldiers so far .
I could not believe my eyes when reading that . But I did not stumble upon any soldiers so far .
Monday, November 12, 2012
Hungarian Film at DTFF 2012
Just the Wind (Csak a Szél)
This Hungarian film drama is about a series of shocking acts of racially motivated violence in 2008 -09 .It will be Hungarian speaking with English and Arabic subtitles .
The screening is :Mon, Nov 19, 09:30 The Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Wed, Nov 21, 09:30 PM,
When I read this I was less happy than before . The screenings are too late .No way for me to go out and watch a film on a week day . The film is about the suffering of the Roma people in Hungary .And while it was true that there was a merciless criminal group murdering six innocent Roma people in 2008-09 - I guess it got already prizes in Berlin because it shows all the Hungarians as heartless racist people . The Roma appear in the film only as innocent victims . This is what internationally expected when speaking about the topic . This is the way to get prizes - and the director got what he wanted .
The only question remains in me who and when will be brave enough to make a film on the truth showing the life in Hungary from this and that point of view . When a film maker will be brave enough to show how much for example the teachers struggle with their Roma students to rise them up and what they get in return many times only violence ( yes beaten teachers became commonplace - I know personally teachers) . When the filmmaker will be brave enough to show how the Roma people's leaders misslead their own people -and instead of encouraging them to study and work they are encouraged to shout and scream on TV showing themselves as victims and they make them believe that it will be enough to survive in the 21th century .
This film did not touch any taboo question - just tells a story in a manner that it is expected . It must be politically correct otherwise it won't be screened .
This Hungarian film drama is about a series of shocking acts of racially motivated violence in 2008 -09 .It will be Hungarian speaking with English and Arabic subtitles .
The screening is :Mon, Nov 19, 09:30 The Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium
Wed, Nov 21, 09:30 PM,
When I read this I was less happy than before . The screenings are too late .No way for me to go out and watch a film on a week day . The film is about the suffering of the Roma people in Hungary .And while it was true that there was a merciless criminal group murdering six innocent Roma people in 2008-09 - I guess it got already prizes in Berlin because it shows all the Hungarians as heartless racist people . The Roma appear in the film only as innocent victims . This is what internationally expected when speaking about the topic . This is the way to get prizes - and the director got what he wanted .
The only question remains in me who and when will be brave enough to make a film on the truth showing the life in Hungary from this and that point of view . When a film maker will be brave enough to show how much for example the teachers struggle with their Roma students to rise them up and what they get in return many times only violence ( yes beaten teachers became commonplace - I know personally teachers) . When the filmmaker will be brave enough to show how the Roma people's leaders misslead their own people -and instead of encouraging them to study and work they are encouraged to shout and scream on TV showing themselves as victims and they make them believe that it will be enough to survive in the 21th century .
This film did not touch any taboo question - just tells a story in a manner that it is expected . It must be politically correct otherwise it won't be screened .
Thursday, November 08, 2012
The Film festival is coming
It makes me so excited .. the most awaited festival in Qatar . At least for me .This year it comes nearly a month later than last year . I think it is fine this way as last year in October it was just too hot .
The trailers .. they are made so wonderfully that I can not resist and post them here ... I know it might cause that every video opens itself when someone comes to my blog ...:)
Now the first trailer . It is called Made in Qatar . Films made right here by the Qatari/Philippinos /expat Arabs etc ... total of 19 films ... It makes me very happy - this is a way to get closer to each other . We need it very much -we live next to each other here without knowing each other .
The trailers .. they are made so wonderfully that I can not resist and post them here ... I know it might cause that every video opens itself when someone comes to my blog ...:)
Now the first trailer . It is called Made in Qatar . Films made right here by the Qatari/Philippinos /expat Arabs etc ... total of 19 films ... It makes me very happy - this is a way to get closer to each other . We need it very much -we live next to each other here without knowing each other .
Monday, November 05, 2012
people and their life in Qatar
An American English teacher living in Qatar is not able to fly home and visit his own mom .When he wanted to fly he learned that he was put on no-fly list by his own country's government . He is not allowed to fly home . He has never visited countries like Afghanistan , Pakisthan , Somalia . He had spent the last ten years of his life in Egypt ,UAE ,Qatar .
He has no idea why he was put on that list and when . He is not accused of anything .He has been serving in the US army for ten years .
A cracking article about the life of many Amercian Muslims in the post 911 world .
He has no idea why he was put on that list and when . He is not accused of anything .He has been serving in the US army for ten years .
A cracking article about the life of many Amercian Muslims in the post 911 world .
Omani tour operators on study tour in Hungary
Omani tour operators were on study tour in Hungary last month - in cooperation with Qatar Airways - I read here . They were interested in thermal baths with special medical services ,luxury hotels , Hungarian culture of horse riding .Hunting opportunities have seized their attention as well because in Oman Hunting has not been allowed for ten years .
Will the khaleeji tourists discover Hungary ? This is an exciting question .So far they know and prefer Austria and the Check republic in the area .
Will the khaleeji tourists discover Hungary ? This is an exciting question .So far they know and prefer Austria and the Check republic in the area .
Sunday, November 04, 2012
17,000 visitors to Qatar - Numbers
There will be a huge UN conference in Qatar between Nov 26 and Dec 7 . Be prepared for that - you who are living here . The topic of the conference will be the Climate Change .17,000 people would participate ...and there will be 400 buses just for them to go around Doha .
Friday, November 02, 2012
My childhood memories - my brother never got sick
I must always smile whenever I remember this story . It started in a winter afternoon ...we expected the form teacher of my big brother to visit us . He was a five grader at that time .It was/is the custom in Hungary that the form teachers visit once a year the family of every student to have better idea about the surroundings of the student and have a friendly chat with the parents .
Well, she was a very nice lady - she was sitting in the kids room and drinking coffee with my mum . She told many good things about my brother - he is smart , helpful and very popular . My mother was very proud .
Then the teacher added and "what is really exceptional - he did not miss a single day from school last year . He seems very healthy child as well ".... Then my mother went overconfident and she told her " I do not intend to brag but ... he has not been down with any illness for one and a half year ."
The teacher praised him and added that only the art teacher is complaining about my brother that his level is not good enough for his age ..Perhaps if my mother encouraged him he would show more talent .
When the form teacher left our home my mother was disturbed by this art teacher's remark . It turned out that they had homework - they had to paint something colorful around their home . My mother looked out the kitchen window and told to my brother : Look there ! The fence which is hiding the garbage cans ! it is a nice topic ... I remember him drawing that colorful fence it had large orange/yellow triangles and really there was not many other colorful things to choose that winter day .... my mother was cooking and encouraged him " be brave - do not be afraid to paint it large .... " everybody loved the result
So my brother was waiting very much to go to the school the next day - he wanted to tell the other students about the teacher's visit and he expected some nice words from the art teacher . . But when he woke up he was very unwell : high temperature , sore throat .... My mother felt miserable .... She was nearly crying 'I am so much ashamed now .... I was too proud yesterday that you are never ill . They will laugh when they hear you are down with flu "
Luckily , nobody teased him for this ... then this story always reminds me not to take the good health of our child as a personal victory . Some kids gets sick more often than others .
And what happened to the painting ? My brother could show it to the teacher after a week ! The only thing she could tell him was " this is not your work - somebody else has made it " and deterred him for life from the career as an artist .
Well, she was a very nice lady - she was sitting in the kids room and drinking coffee with my mum . She told many good things about my brother - he is smart , helpful and very popular . My mother was very proud .
Then the teacher added and "what is really exceptional - he did not miss a single day from school last year . He seems very healthy child as well ".... Then my mother went overconfident and she told her " I do not intend to brag but ... he has not been down with any illness for one and a half year ."
The teacher praised him and added that only the art teacher is complaining about my brother that his level is not good enough for his age ..Perhaps if my mother encouraged him he would show more talent .
When the form teacher left our home my mother was disturbed by this art teacher's remark . It turned out that they had homework - they had to paint something colorful around their home . My mother looked out the kitchen window and told to my brother : Look there ! The fence which is hiding the garbage cans ! it is a nice topic ... I remember him drawing that colorful fence it had large orange/yellow triangles and really there was not many other colorful things to choose that winter day .... my mother was cooking and encouraged him " be brave - do not be afraid to paint it large .... " everybody loved the result
So my brother was waiting very much to go to the school the next day - he wanted to tell the other students about the teacher's visit and he expected some nice words from the art teacher . . But when he woke up he was very unwell : high temperature , sore throat .... My mother felt miserable .... She was nearly crying 'I am so much ashamed now .... I was too proud yesterday that you are never ill . They will laugh when they hear you are down with flu "
Luckily , nobody teased him for this ... then this story always reminds me not to take the good health of our child as a personal victory . Some kids gets sick more often than others .
And what happened to the painting ? My brother could show it to the teacher after a week ! The only thing she could tell him was " this is not your work - somebody else has made it " and deterred him for life from the career as an artist .
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
a lots of kids ill during Eid
I read in the local daily that around 3300 cases were treated during the first two days of Eid holiday .They catch cold and get asthma or gastroenteritis .I feel really sorry for those families and children who spent the holidays in bed suffering from high temperature and bad cough and I feel I must share with you what we had been through .
Around 1 and half year ago our preschooler got ill over and over again . One week he is OK then he got this upper respiratory track infection again . It came with very high fever and he had suffered a lot . The antibiotics took his appetite and he looked like a stick figure ... he was so thin .
Whenever we went to the Paediatric Emergency Center at Al-Sadd they told me very kindly /smiling that it was normal -kids fall ill often when they are small ...
Somehow my motherly instinct said that it was not normal . Struggling with those diseases some months -we gave up asking help from PEC Al_sadd and turned to a private doctor . We just chose randomly a place not too far from our home ...The doctor was very sympathetic -and he understood quickly our problem .He advised us to give up regular milk from the supermarket and try a formula made specially for his age .And behold -it helped . Our little guy did not catch any infection for months .... the quality of his life changed so much that he started to show outstanding abilities in some fields which shocked everyone ... He had been our smart little guy before but becoming almost disease free he developed mentally at an incredible pace . Then I told to myself "why should we have to accept recurring disease as an unchangeable fact of life ?" I think that we have to look for solutions when some ailments attacks so badly our little children ? I do not understand why doctors think that it s OK to be sick so often ...perhaps they see so many serious illness that a mother's complaint about recurring upper respiratory track infection is just a ridiculous concern
We are living in such a crazy world that the special milk powder is healthier than the fresh milk from cows . At least that was the thing that we have experienced ..Our bigger child had suffered a lot from heavy coughs at night . When she had given up dairy products and milk at least for the afternoon then those nasty night coughs stopped .(touch the wood)
Nowadays we rarely go to the doctor . I try to arrange our daily life in a way that they spend some time on the sun .
It protects one from the infections very well .And a lots of vitamin C from fresh food .
Around 1 and half year ago our preschooler got ill over and over again . One week he is OK then he got this upper respiratory track infection again . It came with very high fever and he had suffered a lot . The antibiotics took his appetite and he looked like a stick figure ... he was so thin .
Whenever we went to the Paediatric Emergency Center at Al-Sadd they told me very kindly /smiling that it was normal -kids fall ill often when they are small ...
Somehow my motherly instinct said that it was not normal . Struggling with those diseases some months -we gave up asking help from PEC Al_sadd and turned to a private doctor . We just chose randomly a place not too far from our home ...The doctor was very sympathetic -and he understood quickly our problem .He advised us to give up regular milk from the supermarket and try a formula made specially for his age .And behold -it helped . Our little guy did not catch any infection for months .... the quality of his life changed so much that he started to show outstanding abilities in some fields which shocked everyone ... He had been our smart little guy before but becoming almost disease free he developed mentally at an incredible pace . Then I told to myself "why should we have to accept recurring disease as an unchangeable fact of life ?" I think that we have to look for solutions when some ailments attacks so badly our little children ? I do not understand why doctors think that it s OK to be sick so often ...perhaps they see so many serious illness that a mother's complaint about recurring upper respiratory track infection is just a ridiculous concern
We are living in such a crazy world that the special milk powder is healthier than the fresh milk from cows . At least that was the thing that we have experienced ..Our bigger child had suffered a lot from heavy coughs at night . When she had given up dairy products and milk at least for the afternoon then those nasty night coughs stopped .(touch the wood)
Nowadays we rarely go to the doctor . I try to arrange our daily life in a way that they spend some time on the sun .
It protects one from the infections very well .And a lots of vitamin C from fresh food .
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Hail Storm in Qatar
Most of Qatar remained dry during the Eid holidays but large parts of UAE got heavy rains .We have heard of hail storm in Al Khor , Doha and it was confirmed by the local media as well . I hope to see the rain soon ... it feels like home when it is raining ...
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
November December Escape to Dubai Atlantis
Just read on the facebook - I thought it might be interesting for those who love dolphins ,marine biology , luxury stays at special rates the cheapest room for 2 kids and two adults comes at 990 AED per night
- that is really something very special !
I am not an agent and I am posting this only because we have been dreaming of this Atlantis weekend for a long time There are not many places in the world where one can swim with dolphins.( though that comes with extra fee )I saw rates of a weekend stay by 6 thousand AED at some agencies ... what a difference this 1000 AED per night !
the very special rate is applied only for GCC residents ! Wow !
to swim with dolphins , enjoy the sea and the waterpark ... it must be a nice thing to escape for one or two days from Doha http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/promotionpages/residentoffers.aspx?CID=SM_FB
- that is really something very special !
I am not an agent and I am posting this only because we have been dreaming of this Atlantis weekend for a long time There are not many places in the world where one can swim with dolphins.( though that comes with extra fee )I saw rates of a weekend stay by 6 thousand AED at some agencies ... what a difference this 1000 AED per night !
the very special rate is applied only for GCC residents ! Wow !
to swim with dolphins , enjoy the sea and the waterpark ... it must be a nice thing to escape for one or two days from Doha http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/promotionpages/residentoffers.aspx?CID=SM_FB
Saturday, October 20, 2012
the Aida opera ,the postal conference , the Russian ballet , Dora the explorer , MIA exhibitions on the inventions of the Golden Era of the Muslims ,the coming film festival ... so many events hard even to list or to follow all of them .... where is Qatar now from the " most boring country of the world" as an old travel book once described this country ... however the summers are so much poor in events that one can believe that once it was the norm for all the year ....
what is Qatar like ? so many newcomers are asking me ... it is all depending where do you come from and where are you going to live here ... I knew expats who had been expats in Moscow and Libya before and they said that Qatar is so much better place / Qatar is the place of freedom and fun compared to those countries ...I knew expat who had been expats in Alaska and on a Caribbean holiday island - and they preferred Qatar to those places ....
but also I know Hungarians coming from Abu Dabhi who say that city was so much better organised and the new rich attitude was not as much wide spread as here ... I have not been there yet ... I really wonder what it is like .... they say it is like Doha just in much better edition ...
what is Qatar like ? so many newcomers are asking me ... it is all depending where do you come from and where are you going to live here ... I knew expats who had been expats in Moscow and Libya before and they said that Qatar is so much better place / Qatar is the place of freedom and fun compared to those countries ...I knew expat who had been expats in Alaska and on a Caribbean holiday island - and they preferred Qatar to those places ....
but also I know Hungarians coming from Abu Dabhi who say that city was so much better organised and the new rich attitude was not as much wide spread as here ... I have not been there yet ... I really wonder what it is like .... they say it is like Doha just in much better edition ...
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
New committee to study Villaggio fire reports
New committee to study Villaggio fire reports
I wonder what could they find after half a year , just to read the reports again . The building is repaired . The victims are buried . Most of the evidence however must come from phone calls . The two most important questions are
1. Where did the phone calls asking for help go ? We must think that they must have tried to call the emergency - from reports we know that the teachers called their boss , their co- workers and even they called abroad to say farewell to their relatives .
How on earth the information about the existence of a nursery on fire does not arrive to the firefighters ...?
2 . When the teachers detected light smoke first - then they called their boss/co -workers to ask them what to do . They told them to call the security then they got the answer that there were no more danger there was a little fire but it was controlled .
Who was the one who misinformed them . and why ?
many times I try to imagine what if I found myself with 13 little kids and "light smoke " I would certainly run out to see what is going on ... many times I wonder why these teachers did not run out ... is it possible that they did not even try it ?...
the nursery fire in mexico in 2009 was much worse than this ... that one came suddenly the false ceiling fell onto the sleeping babies - but still they managed to save a lots of kids
here it was a slow spreading fire and it was rather the smoke that killed but all of them ...no one was saved :(
in Mexico like in Qatar the fire came from a store that they had a common wall with - I often think about it how important the location of the nursery ... when I used to work in Budapest the company had its own nursery and kindergarten at the top floor - on the sixth ... on the roof even there was a park for them en plein air with playground .. everything was wonderful there - at this height even the air of the city is clean .. still something in me told NO ... I left my promising career for the sake of a child friendly place ... in the countryside I worked as a freelancer and it was not always a sure income - but in the kindergarten there were huge chestnut trees to hug and it was a stand alone building .. .
I wonder what could they find after half a year , just to read the reports again . The building is repaired . The victims are buried . Most of the evidence however must come from phone calls . The two most important questions are
1. Where did the phone calls asking for help go ? We must think that they must have tried to call the emergency - from reports we know that the teachers called their boss , their co- workers and even they called abroad to say farewell to their relatives .
How on earth the information about the existence of a nursery on fire does not arrive to the firefighters ...?
2 . When the teachers detected light smoke first - then they called their boss/co -workers to ask them what to do . They told them to call the security then they got the answer that there were no more danger there was a little fire but it was controlled .
Who was the one who misinformed them . and why ?
many times I try to imagine what if I found myself with 13 little kids and "light smoke " I would certainly run out to see what is going on ... many times I wonder why these teachers did not run out ... is it possible that they did not even try it ?...
the nursery fire in mexico in 2009 was much worse than this ... that one came suddenly the false ceiling fell onto the sleeping babies - but still they managed to save a lots of kids
here it was a slow spreading fire and it was rather the smoke that killed but all of them ...no one was saved :(
in Mexico like in Qatar the fire came from a store that they had a common wall with - I often think about it how important the location of the nursery ... when I used to work in Budapest the company had its own nursery and kindergarten at the top floor - on the sixth ... on the roof even there was a park for them en plein air with playground .. everything was wonderful there - at this height even the air of the city is clean .. still something in me told NO ... I left my promising career for the sake of a child friendly place ... in the countryside I worked as a freelancer and it was not always a sure income - but in the kindergarten there were huge chestnut trees to hug and it was a stand alone building .. .
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Where to Go at Eid in October 2012
Dora , the explorer is in Qatar - Musical , interactive show for kids
From October 25 to 27
daily shows
at the Ladies Sport Hall at the Aspire Zone
prices : from 75 to 400 QR
details of the show
The Russian Ballet performance -
Russian Seasons of the XXI Century
Friday - October 26, 2012 - 08:00 PM
Qatar National Convention Centre - Doha - Convention Centre
Doors Open 07:00 PM
prices : 200 -750 QR
more details
Go for a desert safari ,dhow trip , Camel Riding
St. Regis Hotel
if you can afford then escape to this luxury seaside hotel in Doha - their Eid offer includes an overnight stay with Eid brunch starting from 1350 rial
Qatar Tourism Authority Organized
the main venues are The Mall ,Al Wakra Park ,Cultural Village ,Souq Waqif ,The Pearl - Porto Arabia ,Hyatt Plaza , Lagoona Mall , Gate Mall - most of the events start on 26th of October and finishes on the 1tst November ...
Monday, October 15, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
A scary incident at the Villaggio theme park
Yeah - it is Villaggio again ! It must have been a nightmare for those kids when they got stuck on a ride upside down very high and it took one hour until the technicians and the Civil Defense managed to bring them down safely .
It is crazy ! The rides gone crazy all over the world .That Sky Loop ride should not exist at all anywhere ...
I am fed up with malls generally . I am trying to avoid them . It is possible to entertain our kids without those facilities which offer every kind of possible things I have never longed for ...
read more here
It is crazy ! The rides gone crazy all over the world .That Sky Loop ride should not exist at all anywhere ...
I am fed up with malls generally . I am trying to avoid them . It is possible to entertain our kids without those facilities which offer every kind of possible things I have never longed for ...
read more here
win a weekend stay and dinner at a five star hotel
Wyndham Grand Regency Doha Hotel is offering at weekend one night stay and a dinner for a couple who will be lucky enough to win this prize . Just click here - a trusted site reviewing restaurants - and answer a simple question about gastronomy - then you can check out your e-mail . If you win then you will be notified within two weeks ... The site is offering this month other games as well - to win dinner at fine restaurants in Qatar ...
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Alternative Energy and Qatar
Qatar and the alternative energy are not enemies -as some people might think . Though Qatar's main income is from the natural gas it has immense solar energy sources as well . Yes -it is very hot here for a half year - for another half it is less hot - and we can enjoy the cold just for a month or two . Then I did not mention the windy side of this country .
So no wonder that they invest in alternative energy researches . This time a lithium-ion battery run electric car was introduced . It can run 400km at high-speed without being recharged ... well , well all of this is very nice . But are not the li-on batteries are dangerous when overheated ? And this is the thing that might happen very easily in Qatar . Dubai cargo plane carrying such batteries caught fire and crashed in 2010 .
I guess that it is a long way until safely run electric cars will be spread in the world . For me the reports on incidents are rather frightening . Qatar has to invest a lot in researches until result comes .
I am not an expert - I might be wrong - I would be the happiest to read soon that battery run cars safety issues are solved .
So no wonder that they invest in alternative energy researches . This time a lithium-ion battery run electric car was introduced . It can run 400km at high-speed without being recharged ... well , well all of this is very nice . But are not the li-on batteries are dangerous when overheated ? And this is the thing that might happen very easily in Qatar . Dubai cargo plane carrying such batteries caught fire and crashed in 2010 .
I guess that it is a long way until safely run electric cars will be spread in the world . For me the reports on incidents are rather frightening . Qatar has to invest a lot in researches until result comes .
I am not an expert - I might be wrong - I would be the happiest to read soon that battery run cars safety issues are solved .
Friday, October 12, 2012
Villaggio fire -court hearing rescheduled again
The owner of the Gympanzee nursery - daughter of a minister . She had promised the parents fun and education ,protection -she promised them safety through web cameras and told them that even red crescent has an office very close . All this was true . But she forgot to mention them that she did not have proper licencing for her facility . It was not her fault the fire . She should tell the court that she was not a fire expert and since she got all the permission to run a child entertaining facility -she did not suspect that something was wrong about the fire safety .
She should stop hiding .She should look into the eyes of the parents .She should appear at the next court hearing . So far she ignored twice that she was called to be there .
She should stop hiding .She should look into the eyes of the parents .She should appear at the next court hearing . So far she ignored twice that she was called to be there .
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Gift idea from Qatar
Torch Tower in Doha with your initials iPhone 5 Case by almawad
Browse another case for the iPhone 5
The photo of the Torch Tower( also known as Aspire Tower) in a beautiful spring like day in December in Doha , Qatar .It was built as a focal point for 2006 Asian games .It has 51 floors and it is 300 metres tall . For the time being the tallest building in Qatar .It was designed by Hadi Simaan .Original photo on an iphone5 case by Alma Wad . Nice gift for anyone who loves Qatar , modern architecture , games . Customize it now with your initials .
Flying Carpet Weekend Brunch at the Torch Tower
If you are for weekend brunches then try something different . The Torch tower in Doha is the highest building for the time being . It has several restaurants as well . The Flying Carpet even caters families .( their other restaurant - the three sixty - is only for smart casually dressed adults )
The brunch is an expensive one;- around 200 rials - for kids ;just the half until age 12 . Kids also have a special station with ice cream, popcorn and chocolate fountain . They promise various activities for them as well . So it sounds that parents can have a ; quiet brunch there while their kids are busy with the programs just for them ...
The homepage of the restaurant mentions smart casual dress code for the place . I think it is better to call them to get more info about it - I can not imagine what do they accept or not . Doha is a multicultural city -many Asians and local people wearing their traditional clothes
The brunch is an expensive one;- around 200 rials - for kids ;just the half until age 12 . Kids also have a special station with ice cream, popcorn and chocolate fountain . They promise various activities for them as well . So it sounds that parents can have a ; quiet brunch there while their kids are busy with the programs just for them ...
The homepage of the restaurant mentions smart casual dress code for the place . I think it is better to call them to get more info about it - I can not imagine what do they accept or not . Doha is a multicultural city -many Asians and local people wearing their traditional clothes
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
the luxurious side of Qatar
Dream Car in Qatar displayed at the Lagoona Mall .
McLaren is a British automotive manufacturer of high-performance vehicles= Supercars !
MEDICINE and U
If you love hearing about the news of medical researches in plain simple language then you must visit the lecture at the WCMC -Q University -Lecture Hall 4 . It will be about Neurological Movement Disorders and the Aging process .
Registration and reception from 6:15 Lecture at 7 pm .On October 9th ....
Registration and reception from 6:15 Lecture at 7 pm .On October 9th ....
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