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Saturday, September 29, 2007

Gondolas - in the desert!

Qatar may have only 80 millimetres of rainfall a year, but that doesn't stop this ambitious country from planting parks, creating golf courses - and even putting canals in their shopping malls. In this dry country, where the scorching sun can reach 50 degrees centigrade in the summer, you can swimming in chilled pools, ice-skating - and now trips on a gondola.

While you glide along the canal, enjoy the cool air blowing in your face, and the white clouds in the blue sky - even if the air is from an air-conditioner and the sky is fake! A trip up and down this canal will set you back a mere 15 riyals (4 US dollars). Enjoy!

Gondolas glide along a canal - not in Venice, but in Qatar's Villagio!


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Qatar's Natural History

In the latest article on our website, Frances Gillespie, author of Discovering Qatar and Natural History journalist, writes about Qatar's natural history. In it she covers Qatar's terrain, its animal, plant, bird and marine life and the impact - both positive and negative -that people have had on Qatar's environment. The article is accompanied throughout by superb photography.

Sand Skink

Copyright © Drew Gardner

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Friday, September 28, 2007

Hyatt Plaza: Layali Al Kheir

The Hyatt Plaza has launched an Arabic Cultural Programme called Layali Al Kheir which will run until the end of Ramadan. The programme will start at 8.30 every evening and will finish at 11.30. Events will include traditional oud concerts, plays including Ali Baba and the 40 thieves and a magic lamp quiz. Traditional Arabic perfumes, sweets and other goods will be available throughout the festival.



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Qatar Ultimate Frisby

Games of ultimate frisbee are being held the College of North Atlantic on Tuesday evenings. Beginners are welcome. For more information see this Qatar Ultimate page on google groups.


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Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Garangau

Children's day

Today is Garangau, or Children’s day in Ramadan. Garangau is specific to the Gulf region, and according to Time Out Dubai is believed to have its roots in the pearl fishing tradition. During Garangau children dress in traditional clothing, and partake in a Qatar trick or treat, knocking on people’s doors to receive sweets and small presents. Many schools are having a non-school uniform day as well, with children asked to come to school in traditional dress, while hotels are having special dinners and the municipality has organised a special programme of songs, quizzes and other entertainment.



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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

La Cigale Hotel

The unfinished car-park spoils the effect at La Cigale Hotel in Doha, Qatar.
The 20 storey La Cigale Hotel has seemed nearly ready open for months and months it is now finally – pre-open. They are not taking any room bookings yet, and they are still working away on that car-park, but you now go and have a look around or eat in their Ramadan tent.

The hotel itself looks modern but can’t escape the rubble in the car park- until night at least, when it lights up in a blaze of colour.

The staff are lovely, and if you just walk in they are happy to show you around – at least, to see what little is ready. I was shown to their pool bar, which is currently being used as their Ramadan tent. The pool, which is inside the bar area, looked very sophisticated, although you would use their other pool (not yet open) if you wanted a decent swim. The bar, in its Ramadan decor, looked superb.

If you want to have a look around, the hotel is located on Suhaim Bin Hamad Street, close to Blue Saloon and Al Sadd Traffic lights. To park your car, you will have to drive round the back of the hotel – if you are coming from Ramada Signals towards Hamad Hospital, turn right at the traffic lights, and then turn right again at the next junction.

You can also book a meal there. The options are their Ramadan tent, which serves Suhur from 8.00 p.m. to 1 a.m. and cost QR185 ++, or Iftar, which is served in their ground floor cafe and costs QR135 ++. Both require pre-booking.

Contact details:

Tel: +974 428 8888
Fax: +974 428 8000
Email: info@lacigalehotel.com
Website: www.lacigalehotel.com
Address: 60 Suhaim Bin Hamad Street, PO Box 25555, Doha, Qatar

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Qatar Visitor's Luxury Hotel Guide

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Monday, September 24, 2007

Doha's Bid for Olympic Games

Doha's bid for the 2016 Olympic and Para-Olympic GamesAspire Tower - where the Olympic Flame burned throughout the Asian Olympic Games got under way earlier this month with this official website, although the full website will not be launched until next month.

The website points out that a successful bid would mean that the Olympic Games went to an Arabic Country for the first time, and also that Qatar is in the centre of many flight paths.

Qatar proved that it could successfully manage big events with their handling of the Qatar Asian Olympic Games. The Asian Olympic Games also left the country with greatly improved sports facilities, not to mention the experience of holding large events. It also seems a good idea to hold the games in a country which can actually afford them - and tax free Qatar, with its huge reserves of Natural Gas, can certainly do that.

Essentially, though, there are three problems which Qatar needs to deal with. One is transport. There is currently limited public transport, and during the Asian Games visitors were often stranded, unable to get a taxi. Residents will remember the terrible traffic problems that existed prior to the Asian Games as well, with massive but last minute renovation of Qatar's roads.

To deal with traffic congestion, Qatar is continuing to expand its road system. However, if Qatar follows the example of other countries this will just lead to more cars on the roads. On the other hand, it would be brilliant if the Olympic Games pushed Qatar to develop a decent public transport system.

Doha's futuristic Khalifa Stadium is now standing unused in a empty Sport City.A further problem is accommodation. During the Asian Games, despite three cruise ships hauled in to provide extra accommodation, people were renting floors to sleep on, never mind beds. Qatar is currently experiencing a boom in hotel building, but it seems unlikely that this would be sufficient for the Olympic Games.

However, the biggest problem that I could see would be the timing. The Olympic Games are held in August, at a time when temperatures can hit 50 degrees Celsius. To hold the games, the month would surely have to be changed, although I believe their is some leeway for this in the IOC rules.

Still, we at Qatar Visitor wish Qatar Olympic Committee the best of luck. If you wish to support the Olympic bid too, you can visit the official website and register your details here.

Also see:

Beijing Visitor, our sister site which provides tourist and travel information for Beijing and the Olympic Games.

Qatar Football

Qatar Tennis

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Sunday, September 23, 2007

Podcast: Surviving Driving in Qatar


Qatar Visitor's Ninety Second Guide to Driving in Qatar


Our latest podcast on Qatar Sounds is on driving in Qatar. For greater authenticity, we decided to record it in a car. Unfortunately, as you can tell from the podcast, not everything went quite to plan...

A driver suddenly realises he is in the wrong lane...



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Saturday, September 22, 2007

Doha Players to Start Rehearsals


The Doha Players are to start rehearsals for the coming year on September 24th. Rehearsals will be held at the American School of Doha from 7 to 8.30 p.m. The coming 2007/2008 year's programme will include the Christmas Pantomime "Almost Dick Whittington" in December and "the King and I" next March. For more information telephone the Doha Players on 5755102 (office hours), 4474991 or email them at doha_players@yahoo.com/doha_players@qatar.net.qa .

Also see:

Qatar Clubs and Societies

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Jobs in Qatar: Al Jazeera Requires 27 Additional Staff

Al Jazeera English, the English version of Qatar's controversial news channel, is looking to hire 27 additional staff, Qatar Journal reported today. Jobs listed include presenter, correspondents, producer and editors. A detailed listing of the jobs can be found here.

You can also see a detailed list of jobs in Qatar and the Gulf on our jobs page. Alternatively, read our Tips and Advice on Finding Work in Qatar.

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Thursday, September 20, 2007

An end to the dollar peg?

Saudi Arabia has for the first time refused to cut its interest rates in step with America, in a move which threatens its dollar peg, according to this article in the Telegraph.

Gulf countries including Qatar are currently tying their currencies to the dollar as part of plans to have a common Gulf currency. However, economic conditions in America are very different from economic conditions in the USA, and low interest rates have helped lead to high inflation.

Now in Qatar we are in the crazy position of having interest rates lower than inflation. Not a little bit lower, either - inflation is a shade under 13% while central bank rates are set at just 5.5%. So in Qatar it makes no sense to save, and lots of sense to borrow!

A further problem caused by the dollar peg is that the riyal is undervalued. That causes further inflationary pressures as non-dollar goods are now very expensive.

I can't imagine Saudi Arabia coming out of the dollar peg and Qatar not following. Assuming I am correct, that would hopefully mean lower inflation and a more sensible exchange rate - which would benefit expatriates sending money home.


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Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Ramadan in Qatar: Fasting and Health


Medina 626
CE

The sun blazes down in the desert, upon the heads of the goats and camels. Herders watch the animals, sheltering under the sparse shade of date palms. Despite the blistering heat, they have had nothing to eat or drink since the morning. They are following the new rules of their prophet Mohammed, and, like him, they will not eat till sunset, when they will break their fast with a little water and a few dates.

Qatar 2007 CE

As I write it is the end of summer here in Qatar, and the outside temperature, though not matching the height of summer when it could reach a humid 50 degrees Celsius, is barely bearable.

Yet the majority of people in Qatar are fasting. Not only do they abstain from food, tobacco and sex, they will also not touch a drop of water from dawn to dusk, for this is Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month.

Not only are Muslims fasting. Many non-Muslims, often motivated by curiosity are fasting too. One question that has arisen in recent online discussion in Qatar Living is whether fasting is healthy.

Given the much greater hardship that suffered by the first followers of Mohammed, this may seem a little frivolous. After all, many Muslims in Qatar can retreat to their air-conditioned houses or apartments in the heat of the day – although for fasting labourers, hardship may be just as great as it was in Mohammed’s day.

Paradoxically, though, many of the problems that practitioners suffer today is from overeating. When we fast, our body assumes there is a shortage of food, and our metabolic system slows down to conserve energy. When we do eat, more food than normal is converted into fat, and therefore less food than normal should be necessary to maintain a healthy diet.

Despite this, more food is consumed during Ramadan than at other times, and many people put on weight during Ramadan.

People fasting may also suffer from gastronomic problems. These can be exacerbated by feasting on sweets, fried food and spicy dishes. To deal with this, fasters should eat food high in fibre such as brown rice or bread.

Fast digesting food that contain sugar can be taken at Iftar, when Muslims break the fast, as they replace blood sugar levels. At Suhur. the pre-dawn meal taken before fasting begins, people should eat foods that contain complex carbohydrates. These take longer to digest, providing energy throughout the day. Foods containing complex carbohydrates include wholegrain bread, oats and muesli.

Dehydration is obviously a danger in this heat. To prevent dehydration, fasters can consume dehydrations fluids before and after fasting. Sports drinks also contain the electrolytes lost when the body becomes dehydrated. See our website article on Recognising, Treating and Avoiding Dehydration for more information.

Despite our modern knowledge of nutrition, one of the best things people fasting can do is to follow Mohammed’s example and break their fast with some water and a few dates. Dates contain potassium and magnesium, some of the minerals lost when the body become dehyrated, as well as tanin and fibre to counter gastronomic problems, and sugar to replace blood sugar levels.

So, happy fasting - the healthy way!

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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Dust Storm: Satellite Images

Nasa's Earth Observatory has provided this image of the of the huge plume of dust that covered Bahrain and Qatar on the 12th September. The image shows the dust storm appearing to rotate in a clockwise direction. Although the edges of the plume are thin, Bahrain and Qatar are almost completely obscured by it.





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Monday, September 17, 2007

Qatar Sea Slugs


A New Species?


Below is an image of what is almost certainly a new species of sea slug, though it has yet to be named. The sea slug was discovered by Gabriele Patterson during a Qatar Natural History Group trip, and photographed by Iain Macdonald.

Expert Dr Bill Rudman, who runs The Sea Slug Forum, believes that the tiny scarlet and white creature is likely to be a new species. It bears most resemblance to a sea slug last seen in Pakistan more than a century ago.

A new species of sea slug discovered in a Qatar mangrove swamp.Appearance

As can be seen from both the new species and the images of sea slugs below, these creatures can be far more beautiful than their name suggests. These soft-bodied creatures are more properly known as Nudibranch - which can be translated as either naked gills or as bare lungs.

Their bright colours and patterns are not without purpose. They serve as a warning to hungry fish to leave these slow moving creatures well alone - not without reason, as they contain unpleasant chemicals making their flesh unpalatable to even the most undiscriminating of predators.

Chromodoris Cazae: a white sea slug rimmed with brown and yellow.
Some Strange Habits

Sea slugs are hermaphrodites, containing both male and female sex organs. They still need a partner, as they are unable to reproduce by themselves. Not content with their adventurous sexual habits, these brightly coloured carnivores are also given to cannibalism.


Two colourful sea slugs, Flabellina Rubrolineata, face off on the seabed.
Sea Slugs in the Arabian Gulf

There are more than twenty species of sea slug found in the Arabian Gulf, with one species, Chromodoris Cazae, only being found in the waters of Qatar and the UAE.

A white sea (Chromodoris annulata) slugs lies on coral.

Many thanks to Iain Macdonald for permission to use the images, and to Frances Gillespie for information about sea slugs.

National Geographic Video on Sea Slugs






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What are Nudibranches?

Swimming in the Sea in Qatar: Is it safe?

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Sunday, September 16, 2007

Adios Amigo...

While Eid Al Adha, the feast of sacrifice, is still some months off, Ramadan still spells doomsday for many live stock. In addition to the feasting that takes place in the night, both at home and in hotels, tents are set up to provide food and meat for the poor.

This jump in consumption means many more animals will face their day of reckoning in Ramadan. Here, at Doha's wholesale market, vendors wave down passing cars to sell their sheep and goats. For the two sheep below. touching their noses in a last farewell, it is time to meet their maker in the local abattoir located opposite the pens.

Two sheep touch noses before a one way trip to the slaughter house.

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Qatar Image Library

Culture and Religion in Qatar

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Saturday, September 15, 2007

New Species Discovered by Qatar Natural History Group

According to this article by Francis Gillespie in the Gulf Times, what is probably an entirely new marine species has been discovered by members of the Qatar Natural History Group.

The tiny scarlet and white sea slug, measuring only 3 cm long, was found by Gabriele Patterson in a Mangrove Swamp in Sumaisma in East Qatar during an April trip.

The sea slug, which has yet to be named, is similar to a specimen documented over a 100 years ago in Pakistan, but which has not been seen since.

Also see:

Sea Slug images (including the new species)

Qatar Camels

Qatar Camel Racing

Qatar Heritage Village


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Friday, September 14, 2007

Qatar on The Daily John Stewart Show



Watch an Interview with Sheikh Hamad

Qatar Sounds and Movies

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RYA Day Skipper Course

A Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Day Skipper shore-based course will be held in Doha starting on Sunday 28th October.

The course will run from 28 October 2007 to 13 January 2008.

The RYA shorebased course for Day Skippers is an elementary course in basic seamanship, navigation and meteorology, suitable for beginners and people with little experience in cruising yachts and motorboats and a full syllabus can be sent upon request. An RYA certificate is presented for successful completion of the course.

The course will consist of 21 lessons of 2 hours each, which will be held on Sunday and Wednesday evenings starting at 7 PM. There will be a break during December for one week for the Hadj Eid (last week of December).

For more information or to join the course contact Vince Mee (email: vincemee[at]hotmail.com tel: 6749254) or John Coubrough (email: jmcoubrough[at]yahoo.co.uk tel: 5279198).

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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The Start of Ramadan

Life in Qatar is about to change dramatically, if only for a month. Ramadan, the month of fasting, is expected to start tonight. Normally, the date Ramadan starts is not certain, as the first day is determined by the position of the moon. However, as today is the last day of the Islamic month Shabaan, Ramadan should start tomorrow.

As of tonight, all bars will be closed, and hotels will stop selling alcohol. The Qatar Distribution Centre, Qatar’s off-licence, will be shut and if, like me, you have just arrived back from your summer break, you may be in for an alcohol free month.

Muslims will not be allowed to drink water or eat food from dawn to dusk. While non-Muslims may eat and drink as normal, it is advisable to do so discretely. You may also find you are not allowed to eat or drink in your work place.

Working hours will change dramatically for some, and Muslims working outside may be given night shifts, with non-Muslims taking their place during the day.

At the time of Magrhib, the evening prayer, with the last rays of the sun disappearing from the sky, Qatar’s roads are at last quiet as the devoted first pray and then break their fast.

Qatar’s not quiet for long though. Many activities are shifted to night time, and Doha’s Markets, Souqs and Malls become a hive of busy activity. In the day, those who are able rest or sleep – though women are often busy preparing the evening meals.

You don’t have to be Muslim to take part in Iftar, the breaking of the fast, and you can feast on traditional Arabic food at any hotel in Qatar. Booking ahead is advisable, though.

Ramadan Kareem! (Happy Ramadam!)


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Also see:

Fasting in the Desert

Ramadan in Qatar: Fasting and Health


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Thursday, September 06, 2007

Qatar's population growth: A slowdown?

Qatar's relentless population rise may be about to halt. According to a report in gulfnews.com the growth of the population may slow or even be reversed due to a change in marriage habits. A increasing number of Qatari women are marrying later in life and twenty five percent of women of a child bearing age remain unmarried. One third of those who do get married will end up getting divorced.

A slowdown in the increase of the population may not be a bad thing. Qatar only has to look at Saudi Arabia, where a massive increase in the population has led to the GDP per person more than halving since the 1970's.

The report seems to put pressure on Qatari women to marry and have families. However, some more liberal observers may have sympathy for the Qatari women, many of whom are well educated and occupy important positions in Government. It's not long since it was suggested that in order to decrease philandering by Qatar men, those men should take second wives. Perhaps, at the same time, we could also heal alcoholics in Qatar by increasing their alcohol allowance.


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