Moving to The Pearl, Qatar

The Pearl Qatar

Now, before you click on the link, some people have complained about the site and that it could open up lots and lots of web pages. Lucy, Bean, and Myself will move into our new place at The Pearl on September 1, 2009.

Lucy has been super busy during the day researching the different shops for furniture, televisions and everything else. I thought a dinner service was a reference for when you sit down to dinner at a fancy restaurant. Turns out that in some fancy place, it means plates and cutlery and all that...

So, the apartment. What is it? Well, it is a 3 bedroom apartment situated 5 floors above the amenities and parking. In terms back home, it would be equivalent to the 10th floor, but over here, it's on the 5th floor. 4 parking floors, 1 floor with swminning pool and then 5 floors up is us.

Why did we select The Pearl? Well, other then the wow factor, and how similar the view provides what we were used to in Montreux, Switzerland ... when Bean is born, even if it's 50C outside, Lucy will be able to take the elevator down to the shopping level and walk throughout the entire shopping environment without having to go outside.

The Pearl, Qatar

Above are some photographs I took while we were in the other day inspecting the place. Once we are settled, and internet is better (connections are that great at the moment) the two of us will start to be more active with posts and keeping up to date with things.

Some interior shots:

The Pearl - 501 - Pre-Move

A few photographs of where we currently live: Ezdan Towers

Ezdan - Day 1 - Doha, Qatar

Ahhh .... and I am now proud to say that I suffered a serious bout of Doha Diarrhea that lasted about 5 days and one visit to the hospital....

-sd

1 week in

A week ago Lucy and I had just arrived at our new home for the next few months. Time has flown by. Lucy has been a busy little bee running around looking at housing. I've been working. I get the easy job...

Temporary Qatari drivers license is now in hand ... along with the most fantastic mitsubishi car. It doesn't have a model. It's white. It should have lots of gears, but really, it only has two....and that's if you are brave enough to see the RPM's hit 9000 .... which is mega -red line. Still, 30 QAR to fill up was ok. I think it works out at the pump to 0.08.40 QAR / litre. My urine is more expensive.

All of our stuff has arrived from the UK ... including that bugaboo. Was fun putting it together and playing with it. I hadn't had an opportunity to actually see it until now. It's cool. Breezy

Food has been nice. Not had a bad meal so far. Yes, Camel is on the menu at some places. Again, like Switzerland and Horse, i'm not adverse to trying it. What I am a bit stand-off'ish about are 'brains' on the menu. Don't think it would sit well with me...so we're going to avoid ordering anything with "mixed meat" or "special meat" ... because well, we don't need more brains!

Don't forget Bean....

-sd

Starsky and Hutch

Before Lucy and I left for Doha, we had watched the new Starsky & Hutch movie. The best part, I think .... was at the end when they are in disguise and the one fella puts on a voice and says:

"Do it. ..... Do it."

Well, throughout the past 72 hours or so, we've amused ourselves to no end saying just that. Do it.

So here we are now. All 2.4 of us. Living in what will now be our home for no more then 100 days. Work will start in about 7 hours from now ... and of course, I can't sleep. Snorebert can.

The goal over the next few weeks is fairly simple. Residence Permit, Drivers Licenses, Hospital registration for bean ... buy a few cars and find a permanent place to live. Easy, eh?

Thankfully it hasn't been too hot the past few days. I think today it got up to 43C ... there have been sandstorms and when we flew in on Friday evening, there was next to no visibility. As someone commented to me on facebook, here they call it 'fog'. Suppose because they've never seen actual fog and the effect that is happening is fog-like. Anyways...

A few things I've noticed. Here and in the hotel I was at a few weeks ago in Doha ... the toilet paper isn't normal 'western' size. the squares are smaller ...

translations to english in menus and magazines are funny. we could have ordered "tree scoops of ice cream" for desert tonight.

ya man