Skip to main content

Doha Chronicles

One of the feeble reasons why I came to Qatar is that I didn't want my Passport to expire again without getting some kind of stamp on it. I could have just flown off for a vacation to Bermuda instead, but then I’d have to have paid for it ;) With 2 more days to go in the desert, it feels about time I capped my stay here with one last writ (albeit more of a photo journal) from these lovely foreign shores. 


 

26th July 2009

 

The day I embarked upon my professional journey. The day I set foot upon unchartered territory. Feelings and emotions overwhelming my psyche. Feelings like anxiety, excitement, fear, awe and the feeling that everything around you is getting bigger.

 

 


 

Forget the dates. I will do well enough to remember any more from here on. This on was quite easy to remember though. Those asses sent me to work the very next day of landing.


Al Sadd Development Complex, as it is called. Picture pe na jaao, apni akal lagaoo. There are 5 more buildings behind and on sides which aren't visible. People told me that I was lucky to start off at such a versatile project. Hotel, Residences, Offices, Recreational Area. I guess I was.


Sometime during Eid last year. There was this trip to the desert. Scorching Heat, I tell you. Forget the sun, there is this period of time when even if you stand for like 10 mins in shade, you'd be drenched in sweat. One thing that I'll surely not miss.


And Camel's are really god sent angels.
<Trivia> Apparently there is a restaurant in Dubai, one of a kind, that serves Camel stuff. Ewww.

Don't be surprised. Qatar in fact has more percentage of their borders surrounded by water than India. An yup, you really can see b-urkha clad women on the beach. Imagine what fun they'd be having. Huh.
O'course, unlike India, you also find green and blue waters around.

One thing that they are passionate about, the one thing that you enjoy more than having meat, the one thing that they have billions ready to spend, and the one thing that is at par with European standards. Sports. I mean they are bidding for Football WC 2022 alright, but they'd spend in the region of 5 billion just for Air Conditioning at the stadiums to bring temperatures from 40-50 to 24-27. Talk about grand.

Anyways, on 14th November 2009, I was lucky enough to be there when Brasil played Eng. Not even in my dreams I thought that I would see a live football match so soon, and of all the places, in Qatar. And then there was also a case of ManU team in Doha for a 4-5 days training session. Awesumness. Glimpses.

31st December 2009
This day I remember especially. The Shadow Picasso was still an Indian citizen and was on vacation in Qatar, and I stumbled upon him. My eyes couldn't have gotten any wider for sure.

 

February 2010

The much needed India trip. Exactly what the doctor ordered. It would have been near impossible if somehow had to stay here 1 year on the trot. I returned REVITALIZED if I may add.

 

May 2010

Drag Racing. Awesum fun, and this pic very well tells the story. The front tires are so in the air. And its fucking really very difficult to take snaps or make a video with all that engine noise. Blew me mind away.

 

 

 

Times In Between

 

Exploring Doha. Working. Meeting new people. Bald look. Bands. Cars. Ice Hockey. Carnivals. Swords. Fifa WC 2010.et al. Following will be a few select pics in and around the place and my work site. The past one year has been good, lots of new experiences, lots of new friends, and maybe I can even call myself a Mechanical Engineer in public now, I know some stuff :D











 

And just before I leave. The Site. When I came to it first and when I am leaving it. Not that I'd alone but I contributed :) Cya from India. Harry.



 

Posted via email from Strange Ramblings !!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

200* The Titan of the world cricket just got a little taller

"The Titan of World Cricket just got a little taller " Need I say more . The only thing that I would regret after this day is that I cannot brag "I was there when.." The only people I'll envy after today are those in the Gwalior stadium. There is not much that I can say about the Little Master that hasn't been spoken off. There is not much to be read about Sachin that my generation has not already read. Comments like "I have seen God, he bats at no. 4 for India" from the people who have played against him, have been plastered all over the memory of this generation. All this and still that humbleness to die for. He truly is an IDOL. You'd think with hopes of a billion people on his shoulder, he will start to stoop a little, well congratulations, you have just been branded the biggest fool to have walked on earth. All said, it cost me a measly 49 Riyals to get Live TV on my cellphone, and a little more effort to postpone some of the work
11 comments
Read more

The first 31st on an 'alien' land

Dear Blog, One thing you don't want on a 31st is for your day to start with work. And o'course I ain't that lucky. But at-least I got a 'half day' (will someone inform the management that if you reduce 2 working hours from 10, it does not become 'half day'). O'course the thumb rule in such cases says " you take what you get, and be happy  or else you will end up either very miserable or getting fired", neither of which interests me much. The Idea There is a thin line between "A Plan" and "An Idea". I had neither. I only knew this for a fact that no way I will spend this night in my camp. In came Mr. Tejaswi, with some ' amoeba like shit' in his head, to my aid. I will still refrain from calling it a plan, since you cannot be sure of things here in Qatar on days of holiday (family day and stuff like that), although no once can stop you if you are really stubborn and a little innovative. As for The Idea, it had a
8 comments
Read more

Brasil vs England : Match Day

14/11/2009 The day started in the usual manner. Me getting up at 4:30 in the morning, boarding the bus at 5:10, reaching site at 5:50, breakfast, work etc. But, it was not just 'any other day'. It had somthing in it that could make me drool all over myself. Something that I have dreamt off, perhaps not every day of the past 4 years, but certainly on days of every good football match I have seen. If you think I was excited the past week, you should have seen me today. I was all over the place. Work was sloppy, the consultant even postponed some of day's agenda's on my account to the next day. Kind of him, yes. Add to that he dropped me to the stadium at 1615, ya, i did get off work a good 1 hour before time, thanks to my english boss, who just couldn't say no (although he did let in slip that if england loses, he'd kill me :)). The FAN FAIR supposedly started at 1500. Was in full flow when I joined in. I have never been to a live game before, I had huge exp
8 comments
Read more