Michael's Birthday-Dune Buggy

I am a bit behind on some pictures that were taken out in the dunes on Michael's birthday! Our friends, Jarvis and Alyson, just imported a dune buggy from the states. It feels a lot safer being in The Bug than it does going down the dunes in a car! Jarvis enjoys doing lots of tricks in the dunes. I am quite impressed, even Alyson drives The Bug!!! You go girl! It is fast and loud and tons of fun!

Happy Boxing Day!

Happy Boxing Day! Living in another country is so interesting, I learn something new EVERY day! For example, Boxing Day. My British friend was telling me all about her Christmas traditions which led to a conversation about Boxing Day. I of course assumed that Boxing Day was a day when you would invite friends and family over to watch a boxing match...WOW...was I ever wrong!

Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes.

As corrected by my Canadian friend, Lori:

In the province of New Brunswick (can't speak for other provinces) it's a holiday just like Christmas Day where no retailers are open. Stores do not open again until the day after Boxing Day. Traditionally, as I was growing up, it is a holiday designed to visit people outside of the immediate family. Christmas Day is spent with immediate family members and Boxing Day was designed for "clean up" and "boxing up" gifts from the tree. Also it's day for giving to others who are not part of the immediate family and back in the old days it would refer more to people who you'd like to give gifts to yet did not see on Christmas Day. That's probably a more accurate description of the day. If any stores are open in any of the other provinces they are probably stores like Best Buy who have an American origin. Canadian retailers would not be open.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas!
اجمل التهاني بمناسبة الميلاد و حلول السنة الجديدة

You Have Been Elfed!

Okay, I am so sure that you have all seen the adorable Office Max email that has been floating around. Of course I had to elf the three of us (not much else to do here in Doha ;-)))! Please enjoy and elf yourself!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1348022060

Qatar University Says No to Coeducation

Below is a direct quote, not my bad grammar and spelling! Thought this might be interesting!

Qatar University has denied it plans to introduce coeducation for undergraduates. Responding to a report in the Arabic Al Sharq newspaper, the university said its policy to have separate wings for male and female undergraduate students remains unchange: "We are committed to continuing with the system to respect the wishes of the families who send their children to the university. We want to help maintain the Qatari tradition."

Happy Birthday Michael!

كل سنة و انت طيب
(Happy Birthday in Arabic!)

Not much has changed, Michael still loves to nap!

No Christmas Cookies in Doha

Can you even believe that there are NO EGGS IN DOHA? UGH! For those of you who are considering moving to Doha, let me prepare you for the inevitable! One day there are eggs, the next day there are no eggs! Of course this is happening when everyone is trying to bake their holiday cookies! Now I know what you are thinking, that there was such a demand for eggs, but seriously, this is just the way things are in Doha! Rumor has it that one of the grocery stores is getting eggs from the UK in tomorrow, but I am sure they will be crazy expensive!

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas

...even in Doha! It is really amazing and I am surprised to see MANY Christmas trees and decorations. There are many Merry Christmas signs hung throughout the city as well! We of course brought our Christmas tree and acquired another one from someone moving back to the states, but we would have had no problem finding one here, with all the trimmings!

Back to Doha

After returning from Thailand, Michael and I went to the Blackjack-Black Tie Gala. This was a night of wonderful food, dancing and of course blackjack! This casino night was sponsored by the American School of Doha. We had a wonderful time and can't wait until next year's event!

One note to make, I had the dress that I am wearing made in Phuket. It took them about 2 days! You just pick out fabric and look through books of gowns and pick one out. They simply take your measurements and the dress is made in record time!

Goodbye Thailand

We truly had a wonderful time on our trip to Thailand! We learned a lot and are anxiously awaiting our next trip to plan!

Bangkok-More Elephants

So Michael and I were coming home one evening and as we were getting off the sky train, we could see an elephant on the street. So of course we ran to go and find him! We bought some bananas and fed them to this baby elephant. He was very hugry!

Rose Garden

On the way back from the Floating Markets, we stopped at the Rose Gardens. It was just a lovely place that was so peaceful.

Bangkok Fire Station

Of course, Michael had to stop and pose!

Floating Market

Probably my favorite part of the whole trip was going to the Floating Markets. The Floating Markets were actually about 2 hours outside of Bangkok. We decided to hire a driver for the trip and skip the mass bus tour. This way we were able to leave earlier and get to the markets before the rush! The concept of the Floating Markets is quite amazing. Canal after canal of shop fronts. Long ago they were used by Thais for their everyday shopping needs. While it is now run by mostly Thai women, it pretty much caters to tourists. You could buy anything from pharmaceutical needs to spring rolls to souvenirs. We did take a boat ride through the canals and had a wonderful time!

Buddhas!

After seeing the Grand Palace, we went to see Wat Po, aka-Reclining Buddha!

Then we went to see the Standing Buddha!

The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace was once the official royal residence. Nowadays it is used only for occasional ceremonial purposes.

Michael and I rented headsets that took us on a tour of the Grand Palace. It was really quite an amazing place that again pictures cannot do justice.

Bangkok-Erawan Shrine

We got a list of the top 12 things to see/do in Bangkok and tried to get as many accomplished as possible. Number 7: Pray for Luck at Erawan Shrine


For over 50 years, Thais have been paying respect to the four-headed, multi-armed Brahman deity at the Erawan Shrine. "Erawan" is actually Brahma's three-headed elephant used for transportation. The shrine was erected in the 1950s as a solution to the endless delays and accidents plaguing the original Erawan Hotels' construction. Tree spirits were the cause and the Brahma shrine was built to accommodate them. Believers line up everyday at the Erawan Shrine to make offerings of colorful flower garlands, incense sticks and candles. Those who receive good fortune often commission/hire costumed dancers to perform to a live orchestra around the statue as a form of thanksgiving!

This was really cool! We got to the Shrine right before it was about to close for the evening. There were men gathering all the "offerings" and literally just throwing them all away. While some of the pictures look cloudy, it is really from all of the incense being burned! There was even a beverage bar near the Shrine where you could purchase drinks as offerings!

I hadn't realized while shooting the video that I would not be able to rotate the images. I hope you can still get an idea of the music and dance that are performed as a result of good fortune! You may notice a woman kneeling in the front, she is responsible for hiring the dancers. I wonder what her good fortune was!?!

Calypso Cabaret

This is a MUST for tourists! Thai cabaret offers an evening of laughter, dazzling lights, gorgeous "women" and a lot of fun. Calypso Cabaret is the most famous and possibly popular drag show in Bangkok! (All of the performers ARE men!)