Middle East: Dubai+Doha

The Turkish coffee that I had at the Iranian restaurant we went for dinner wasn't just yummy, but it actually worked for me. So much so that it's almost 4am now in Doha and I am still wide awake. So I decided to do some blogging before the year ends. The level of my procrastination tells me that I probably won't get to blog again until next year. Or maybe I would. But who knows?


Family time in Doha is good. At least I get to spend some quality time with my parents despite my short stay here. Dad works during the day so I spend my days with Mum. When Dad returns home from work we will go out for dinner. It's winter here in the Middle East so the skies turns dark at around 4.30pm, therefore most of the time I don't get to see daylight. But it is indeed livelier at night time. In fact, the Arabs eat really late.... say around 9pm? Restaurants don't fill up until that time anyway. My parents and I are considered kind of "weird" to be eating at 7.30pm, but we get a better and faster service because the place wouldn't be crowded.


The weather here in the Middle East is.... GREAT. Contrary to my last visit, where it was so hot I felt I'm being burnt alive, the winter here is very cooling. Night time in Doha can get a little chilly, though no way as cold as the winter in Melbourne. Whereas in Dubai the temperature variance is not too much, and their nights are cool, not cold. 


Fridays here are equivalent to the Sundays anywhere around the world. However, last Sunday (18/12) was Qatar's national day, so it was a national holiday. We took this opportunity for a short escape to Dubai, and spend 2 days 2 nights there. Dubai is very, very modern. Honestly, there are many aspects Singapore, and even Melbourne is falling short, as compared to Dubai. I was rather awed by their infrastructure, facilities, and even their transportation system. Perhaps Dubai is a relatively new city, and the country is rich and has around 70% expatriates from around the world working for them, there is no wonder why they are able to produce.

First time traveling with Fly Dubai, and the experience was pleasant. In fact, I realized that even though the airline does not lose out to the non-budget airlines out there. In fact, I think they are even a tad better than Sri Lankan Airline (which I took from Sin-Colombo-Doha).

Dad booked "Lotus Grand Hotel Apartments" and we loved the place  - only for the interior. It was clean, spacious and even though the deco was simple, but gives a homely nice feel.
However, the service sucked. Hot water fades away not even halfway through showering and there's nothing they can do when we complained. The reception retained our passports without notifying us that they will need to return them to us later, and the reason for retaining them. They said they needed to do scanning for some 'police check'. What we don't understand is why can't they just scan and save the data on the spot? If they needed our passports for longer time, they really should not just do it without providing with any explanations. Plus, one of the guys cut me off when I tried to explain the importance of letting us know and that passports are important docs! Despite the great environment, the service really put a dent to our stay.

Burj Khalifah - one of the tallest, and most prominent buildings in Dubai. 

Burj Khalifah lake, with restaurants around, and a Souq Al Bakar (a market selling textiles and other goods). There is a musical fountain during night time as well as performances by the lake. 

The world's largest aquarium - Dubai Aquarium - located just inside the world's largest mall  - Dubai Mall.

World's only seven-star hotel - Burj Al Arab - located in Jumeirah. It's beside the reclaimed Palm Islands, which I didn't get a chance to get to.  

Too bad I was facing the sun to capture a good picture from the Jumeirah Open Beach.
Burj Al Arab was in good view there, and so was the hotel beside it - Jumeirah Beach Hotel. I don't know how to describe the shape of this hotel. To me it looked like a flapping stingray without its tail. But of course, I could have a distorted view of things, so I may not be right. 

One of the biggest, and most photographed mosque in Dubai - The Grand Jumeirah Mosque. 

night shot at Festival City - another huge shopping centre in Dubai. 

Short stay in Dubai, so we didn't get to see everything. Saw the Emirates Towers and the city view from afar, so didn't manage to snap photos. Dubai is, and has all the well-known and interesting architectures, but time does not allow us to walk thus far. 




And no desert and camels this time either, I think. Fortunately I saw them last time, but I really miss the camels. But those places are not accessible by public transport in Doha, and my dad needs to work, so I probably won't be catching them after all.


Back in Doha, I mostly go out for diner with my parents. And also to do a little bit of shopping.

smoking shisha at a Damascus restaurant in Souq Waqif. 

Having a seafood feast at Little Sailor 

Family photo at L'Zwaar Seafood restaurant in Katara Cultural Village. 

Patriotic Qataris waving their national flag sitting on top of their cars, which are all specially decorated for the occasion - their National Day.
Major jams along the way to the Corniche. We were stuck in the jam for almost 2 hours on our way to Katara Cultural Village, and another 1 hour plus back home. Spraying party springs, and sounding the horn as a form of liberation more than a form of celebration. I guess it is only on this day they can really let themselves go.
Someone even set a car on fire and it almost exploded right in front of us. Luckily the fire brigade came in time to put the fire out. 

Inside Souq Waqif

Family at the Shiraz Garden Iranian restaurant.
One of the best restaurants I've had so far.
The ambience was fantastic, with the ancient Iranian feel, right from the backdrop,  to the plates used.
The grilled chicken, beef and mutton were great. Though I didn't have the mutton, the chicken and beef were fantastic.
The hammour we ordered was fresh and juicy. And the saffron rice and plain butter rice were so fragrant we can simply eat them like that. Their spinach with onion and butter was tasty. So was the tartar sauce mixed with garlic and some vegies...
And last but not least, the turkish coffee I've ordered tasted fantastic. Woke me up within like 10 minutes after the initial sips. I want more! 

I still have two more days in Doha. Strictly speaking, 1.75 days. My flight is on 22/12 22:30hrs Doha time. I will reach Singapore on 23/12 around 13:45hrs. Also travelling Sri Lankan Airlines, transiting at Colombo. And then another 6 days or so in Singapore before I fly back to Melbourne. God knows when I will get to travel again. 


Maybe the end of next year I will get to travel? I plan to go to Korea again, for perhaps 2 weeks. And then Japan 7 days, Taiwan 7 days, and Singapore 7 days? Let's see how I go. Right now, I really don't wish my holidays to come to an end so quickly!