Smiley's Blog

Sydney Opera House

Smiley — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:02:06 +0000

Our apartment

Smiley — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:08:02 +0000

Taken with Camera+ and posted direct to the blog.

Venetian Carousel (part 2)

Smiley — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:18:19 +0000

Here’s the Carousel in The Pearl Qatar. Not the most popular of attractions even in Qatar where there are not really many things for children to do.

I guess the prospect of 5 minutes gently going round and round (and, of course up and down) doesn’t really hold up against playing Angry Birds or whatever on your Nintendo DS. So that probably explains whay on a sunny Saturday afternoon it’s empty. Even so, it’s something I am happy to see. Obviously, I can remember going on these as a kid, and it wasn’t that long ago that I went on one on the Pier at Brighton. I am also quite taken with the fact that in Qatar, where everything is new and the whole focus of life seems to be on making a profit and not paying much attention to what’s gone on before, there is something from out of the past that is completely unexpected.

Haven’t been on this yet, but I suspect it will not be too long before I spend my 15 Qatari Riyals (3 quid) and take a trip back to my childhood.

Venetian Carousel

Smiley — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:16:38 +0000

We’ve got a Venetian Carousel in The Pearl. Here’s a photo of the horses waiting to be installed taken with my iPhone. I’ll take a photo of the finished article tomorrow.

Winter’s last hurrah

Smiley — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:59:35 +0000

It’s still unseasonably cold here in Doha. Today saw the mercury rising to about 24 degrees C which is the warmest it’s been for ages. Since December we’ve been having some really chilly weather. The nights are the worst; it has been regularly getting down into single figures, and houses in Doha aren’t built for that sort of thing. Of course, in the UK, a low of 9 degrees is considered quite balmy. But here where the lowest the temp in the summer months ever gets is usually 30 or so, 9 is not what we want.

I have just been out tonight and again the wind is really quite bitter.

Of course, in some ways it’s nice to wear long sleeves. It is also great weather for getting about and doing things. It’s just a shame that there’s nothing to do here!

Anyway, with the solstice fast approaching, I guess we have almost seen the last of this.

Wheelbarrows at Souq Waqif

Smiley — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:49:41 +0000

Wheelbarrows at Souq Waqif, a photo by SJByles on Flickr.

Doha, March 6, 2011.

This was taken in Souq Waqif in Doha. Wheelbarrows are widely used in the Soug to transport bags of spices. It was lunchtime when this photo opportunity came along; couldn’t resist it!

The Intercontinental from The Pearl

Smiley — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:29:29 +0000

The Intercontinental from The Pearl, a photo by SJByles on Flickr.

Taken from The Pearl Qatar, this is a view of the Intercontinental Hotel and a new, as yet unnamed, hotel / apartment complex.

Dentist tomorrow

Smiley — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Dentist tomorrow. I hate dentists. I especially hate being fleeced for double what it costs at a private clinic in the UK. Hope it doesn’t hurt too much.

The Pearl at Night

Smiley — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 16:43:05 +0000

The Pearl at Night, a photo by SJByles on Flickr.

A view of The Pearl Qatar at night. Quite like this photo!

A6-FDK B737-8KN FlyDubai

Smiley — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 16:29:54 +0000

A6-FDK B737-8KN FlyDubai, a photo by SJByles on Flickr.

From last year’s trip to Duba, this FlyDubai 737 was photographed from within the Middle East Business Aviation arena. More pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sjbyles/sets/72157625571255305/