which is I haven’t blog for a long time, I’ll go straight to the point.
This blog appears to document more of my miserable moments than the happier times. Unfortunately, as this has become a habit, it is hard to change.
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Life after work is more or less becoming mundane over here. We come home, we cook, we eat, we talk cock, we watch movie(s), we check our emails, then we go back to our villa to sleep.
Once in a while, we will venture out to find new places to eat, depending on our whims and whines. Our latest adventure is the steakhouse named Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern. I’ll let the photos tell the story.
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If we’re not outside in the very humid summer heat, we’re hiding inside our villa, sleeping, watching movies, tv dramas or chatting about everything.
Sales business here is very different from Singapore.
In Singapore, if you buy things direct from the authorized distributor (e.g. Canon), the cost is usually higher than buying from 3rd party shops (like Cathay Photos or Song Brothers). Here in Qatar, the reverse is true: all 3rd party shops prices are at least 10% more than the authorized distributor. I don’t really understand why this happens, could it be:
1) Higher overheads of 3rd party companies,
2) The distributor selling to companies at the same price as to consumers,
3) 3rd party companies are giving themselves large profit margins?
Somehow, the last option seems to be the most viable: It is not surprising to find sub-contractors here marking up 200% of the cost price. Strange.
Despite planning for a return in early August, my plans have been scrapped due to certain changes in home air ticket policy. Because of this, it is extremely not economical for me to fly home in July or August. I will most probably fly home in October on the 5 or 6th.
It’s been a while since my last post, between the last post and this, the temperature has risen from the noon high of 40 degrees C to 48 degrees C; the lowest temperature in the night now is a COOL 38 degrees but with a much higher humidity.
From the absence of condensate on my window 3 weeks back, the same A/C settings now produces a steady stream of condensate which dries out in the morning around 7am. There is a reversal of water heater and cool water from the tap. We used to keep the heater on to allow to have a nice warm shower in the morning and afternoon, now, we have to keep the heater OFF to have a nice cool shower. The heater has become a water cooler. The cold water tap now produces water that is hot to the touch.
Some say the worst has yet to come. In Aug/September, it is actually possible to have 50 degrees C and close to 100% humidity. When that time comes, I might actually die…
Currently an acquaintance from ICCS 2007 is staying with me in Doha for these 2 nights. Danny Tregidgo helped out with Lim Chu Kang cleanup
We just returned from a trip to Souq where we had a apple-flavored sheesha and ice tea (Danny’s British) and Turkish coffee (that’s me).
We went to Al Khariss Lebanese restaurant after bumbling around looking for a sheesha place. We actually went inside a traditional sheesha joint where only the locals go for pure tobacco sheesha and escaped hastily after realising there are no flavored sheesha.
We didn’t take many photos, but Danny had taken a photo of me billowing smoke. I’ll post it once I get hold of the photo.
Last Saturday was my first off alternate Saturday off and I took the chance to go sightseeing around Doha city by myself. Rather than drive there in my company sponsored car+diesel, I decided to go “foreigner” and take the public bus provided by the state-owned company Karwa.
Knowing for sure I will be travelling quite a bit on the bus, I chose to buy the day-pass which costs 9 QAR, good unlimited rides for the whole day and night. Single trip tickets cost 3 QAR each hence it makes more sense with the day pass.
If you know me, you will know I go crazy taking photos when I go sightseeing. This trip is no different. In total, I snapped 351 photos which are uploaded onto Flickr. These photos have yet to gone through QC hence browse only when you’re extremely free. 2 panoramas of the New Doha District taken from the Al Corniche are also uploaded. Click the photo below to see the full size.
Highlights of the photos will be provided in a later stage.
If I can find the time.
The residence compound I am living in is essentially a walled garden, housing people predominately from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Other than the occasional visit by (potential) vendors from the outside “world”, we are an isolated community, transplanting our customs and habits with us.
This situation isn’t just the case of us reluctant to change, rather I suspect, it is the norm rather than the exception. To the south of our compound (see Google Map above), lives a community of doctors and medical professionals. And to the north of our compound, lives another community of teachers.
In a corner of my neighborhood, exists a tiny park where some children and adults go in the evening for socialising. It is tiny but because of the children, it’s quite full of life, at least in one corner of the park. This is a park but it’s not a family park, as such, there is a strict segregation of adult males and females. In fact, a security guard is stationed inside the park full time. I almost made the mistake wandering over into the forbidden zone but was warned by the security guard.
There is no life other than human and insects in our compound. But just outside the compound, it is possible to observe some “wildlife” going about their daily business.
For someone who has only worked for 4.5 months in Singapore, working in Qatar is still a culture shock to me accustomed to “customer service” oriented business culture.
If you think customer service in Singapore is bad, you really have to look at vendors here to appreciate what you have. There is a photo studio company here, when I called for quotation, told me “We’re very busy. I’m not interested in doing business with you” even though the service period is for 30 months.
Another of our office furniture vendor, after asking them for a catalogue, told us to get them from another place. In fact, because the catalogue provided is quite lacking, in the end, we had to create our own catalogue using Photoshop, in order to satisfy our own customers. It’s not like we’re buying one. Strange.
Somehow, my first week in Qatar has passed right by, almost without me knowing it. So far, life has been pretty kind on me, no major feelings of depression or missing home. In fact, call me heartless, I think I’m loving my life away from home.
But I do miss my family and friends back home, but right now, the feeling isn’t that intense yet. I have been busy almost every night, either going out for food and/or shopping or hanging out at one of my colleagues’ place after having home-cooked food together. So there is almost no time for me to feel sorry for myself. Yet.
The one complaint I have about Qatar is everything is so far apart. It is impossible to go anywhere without having to drive out from my villa compound. =S
Latest news: I will be having alternate Saturdays off starting from the 2nd Saturday of April. Maybe I will have more time to go travelling in Qatar. I can only hope.
Even more latest news: Planning for vacation in September.
