The inland sea

A small group of us from work went on an organised trip to the Inland Sea. It was the first time I've been out and about for months, and as such was wonderfully refreshing. Unfortunately every jolt of the Landcruiser sent shots of pain searing through my head and I quickly started to feel sick. Some of the dune driving was fairly white-knuckle, but with feeling so rough I had somewhat lost my taste for danger. Still, you have to admire what these cars can do as they zoom diagonally down the dunes seemingly only half a degree short of rolling.


Our kamikaze driver either didn't speak English or just didn't speak - hard to say which, but we did get to a point where he waved an arm across the water and said "Saudi Arabia" so I guess we were pretty much at the end of Qatar.

The inland parts of the sea were slightly unimpressive. Presumably the tide was out. But there was plenty of other sea looking prettily blue beyond the dunes. From the Saudi-spotting point we backtracked, heading North again to our camp. There are a lot of permanent camps set up together, but it all looked pleasant enough. We were right on the beach, dunes behind us and the refinery on the near horizon. The staff were lovely and the bedouin style tent made a good getaway from the wind and we spent a very pleasant evening. Then we tried to sleep. At which point any idea I'd had of spending a serene night in the desert communing with nature disappeared. It was more like sleeping at Silverstone. All night, and well into the small hours, dune buggies roared and raced round and round us. So much for a peaceful getaway. I groaned in and out of a sleep corroded by the venom I felt towards these people. Woke up rather cold, stiff and grumpy, but hey, it was another beautiful day and it was good to be out watching the sun come up.

Very glad I went - despite the night and my head I had such good time being out with nice people in a pretty cool place. But next time I'll find somewhere quieter to camp.

Not a titter

You know you're really teaching EAL kids when you do a lesson on silent k words and someone suggests 'knob' and nobody laughs. Not a titter. Not even a smirk.

Legs in lycra

The final day of the Tour of Qatar. This stage, from Mesaieed, ended with about six laps of the Corniche. Oooh, all those thighs straining at their lycra casings. But best of all - and quite unexpected - was the sound of the powerful rushing whirr of the peloton. Fantastic.

Race leaders heading North

Peloton heading South

Lycra heaven
View across the water to West Bay

Doha in a nutshell

I have the answer!

When people ask what Doha is like, the answer is, "An airport."
There are people from hundreds of countries, all corners of the world. Very few call this their homeland. There are the same shops you'd find anywhere in the world, none of them selling anything interesting. There is nothing to give a sense of place, of local character. Is this the pinnacle of globalization? Its anywhere and everywhere and nowhere. It is an airport. Possibly Dubai airport.