From the Inside

Firstly we went into an English class and on the wall was a map of the world and down the bottom of this map, was a really weird looking place tucked in neatly under a weird looking Australia.  This place barely resembled somewhere I know and had a similar name....

I suppose at least the Chathamsaaret will be happy they appear to be a bit closer to Uusi Seelanti.  Another really interesting thing was that Finland had built the whole map around themselves being centre of the world.  Now I have seen this before, with other countries centring themselves, but I have never actually seen us try to do that.  Why?

Next on the wall of the school, we spotted a series of black and white framed  photographs (except for the one photograph that actually looked a bit green??) and we thought them to be a series of shots of previous Principals, all looking down in judgement of the students of today.  Each one trying to out do the other with looks of distain and loathing and general superiority.  Most had that 'I can snap you with a look!' kind of face, so I was pretty convinced I had it right (and was quietly practicing my version of the stare to start our own wall)

Imagine my surprise when it turned out the framed pictures were the countries Prime Ministers for the last little while.  I say last little while because this is an old country and surely there must be more?  ....and what about the green guy immediately before the door?  

If the look they were going for was cranky, they nailed it!  Except maybe that last guy.......?

Doha to Helsinki.

We started out this morning at 4.... which actually means I woke up every half hour from around 12.30.  We had to settle our bills and be on the shuttle to the airport by 6, so an early start it was.

Things went pretty well until we stepped outside the hotel to join the group that were also leaving for the airport and the shuttle pulled up.  To me, it appeared that the number present exceeded the natural law of available seats on a wee bus.  I expected another bus to arrive..... I was disappointed.

The driver got off and all our luggage was piled up.  We got on the bus.  Others got on the bus.  More people and their bags, got on the bus.  It was full.  THEN each of the seats in the aisle were snapped out and provided additional seating.  The Bus for 18, suddenly became a bus for 25!  It was tight and hot and cramped.  Then... this very Irish accent pops up from the very back seat "sorry folks (insert Irish lilt) I have left something very important in our room".   He had to get out!  From that back seat!

Obligingly, everyone seated up the middle isle hoped up, snapped the temporary seat back into position and proceeded to get out of the bus.  The poor Irish man was saying 'sorry' to everyone all the way out the tight, tight bus.  His wife was saying from the back seat 'oh my, he is usually so organised' and the kids adds 'what's he lost this time?'  Mum says 'oh, be quiet Brandon!'

All Mrs Browns Boys sounding!  The only thing missing was 'be fekking quiet Brandon or I'll knock your block off!' ..........biffo!

Everyone hops back into the bus only this time they are one seat further back and it is like speed dating, with a totally new person squished up against you, looking awkward and careful not to invade too much space.  I was lucky.  I went from a larger, large woman, to a tiny woman, so my speed dating was awesome!

The bus lurched along and I am pleased there wasn't a hill start in sight as that bus was chokka!

The airport was magnificent, new (like everything else) and totally over the top.  We met up with the rest of our group and the 9 of us set off for Helsinki on a 6 hour flight, that was particularly uneventful (just as well since we flew over Iraq, Iran, the Kush, Russia etc!!!).

Helsinki airport was less of a magnificent building and very totalitarian.  Function being the order of the day.  We went out and about in the city and taking into account it is Sunday (and no alcohol is sold on Sunday) it is pretty sparse of people for a capital city.

Some of us ate our evening meal in a lovely eatery and some of us ate at McDonalds.  Nothing to add there!

Today we are off to look at schools, so I have my camera loaded and ready to go.

Nearly Out.....

There is an attitude here that I cannot put my finger on.  Of course there is the very male dominated structure of society, but there is also a feeling of distain for foreigners.  In fairness, I may be confusing the women thing for the foreigners thing, but I understand now why NZ is considered to be such a friendly place, because eye contact and making way for others on the footpath is kind of a given at home.  

We were in the hotel, going down in the lift from the 7th floor and the lift stopped on the 5th floor.  Three men waited.  One hoped in and in a very English accent said 'they probably won't ride the lift with women'.  

Too bad!  Let them wait!!!   I guess they didn't want to catch 'girl germs'.

Check out this pic, you may have to zoom in, but it is a wedding reception that was in the hotel where we are staying  and in different rooms at the reception are.......... the 'Ladies' and the 'Gents'. 

The majority of the taxi drivers, however, have been awesome.  First we got a taxi from the airport to the hotel 150 Rial, then we took one to town 135 Rial, then we grabbed a cab back to the hotel 11 Rial, now we are catching the free shuttle to the airport!  They ripped us early, but we found out!!!!! (eventually) . Once we got to the 11 Rial, we discovered that the special coloured taxis were the state run taxis and everything else was just an unregulated rip, perpetrated by the hotels!

The state drivers are all imports from overseas and they take a contract with the King for two years and all cars, accommodation, airfares etc are supplied.  The contract is for 2 years and these guys leave their families to come here for work.  We had drivers from India, Uganda, Kenya etc. most had passable English and there was no requirement to speak Arabic, to come and drive taxis in Doha.  The also didn't have to be Muslim, which I found interesting, they are allowed to practice any religion here, although I didn't see any other churches.

Searching for Togs

So, apparently the old girls don't do much swimming here.  I needed to buy some togs because I don't have any at home that I would wear anywhere other than our swimming pool.  We went to the Mall that didn't look much from the outside, but inside the whole ceilings were painted like blue sky and clouds, which appeared to move.  Through the middle was a 'river' with Gondolas (think Venice) and beautiful wide corridors, with shiny tiles looping off in all directions.  It was huge, it had a theme park and an ice skating rink and was, incidentally, the one that had a fire where the triplets from NZ were killed.

Aside from generally having a look, I wanted to get some togs.  So you would have thought that with everything from Amani to Zara, I would have been able to find something.  Errrr..... no.  It appears when ladies buy togs here, they are looking for the absolute MINIMUM coverage possible.  I kid you not!  Upon trying them on, there were part left uncovered that I have seen in years!!

They were also quite sheer fabrics, with no extra lining or anything like that.  One pair was so strappy, it was more like one of those puzzles you get in the Christmas cracker to try and get on and I had way to many limbs going in the wrong holes to rock that look.  Actually finding a one piece was like finding a blade of grass round here!

I finally settled for one that covered enough of my lower half, came above my spine scar, had not 'missing' sections-BUT has two (sort of covering) bra parts with a split down the middle to below the boobs.  I think the bra part was designed for around a size 14, so I could rock some awesome tan lines on skin that has never seen the sun........had I not found a sports top to cover the over exposed skin!

By the end of the trying on, I was so overwrought with giggles that I think the sales people thought I was really excited about getting my new togs!!  It was more to do with my minds eye as I watched all these ladies covered from head to toe and now I know their secret obsession with minimal swim wear!

Needless to say, there will be no photos!  

Waiting........

So, it is 11.30 and life in Doha doesn't get off the ground until around 4.  We are sitting in a palm treed garden 'bar' with not a waiter in sight and I actually think it may not even be open.  In the background is the call to prayer, which sounds more like prayer than the music you hear in Egypt and Turkey.  Even the malls etc don't open until later, especially on a Friday, which is their 'Sunday', so here we are, all dressed up and no place to go.

It is so weird to have been so busy and now, absolutely nothing to do.  Forced rest.....??!!!???

Doha declared independence in 1971, so much of the infrastructure is quite new.  Apparently they bowled the buildings that were here and relocated the population to different housing.  From what we have seen so far, there is huge development.  The people are very multicultural and seem to speak Arabic and English equally well.  Our driver last night spoke 10 languages and we discussed the fact that in NZ, we are not really required to speak any other language, so we don't have it ingrained in us to learn as a necessity.  

Doha

Our 17 hour flight has landed us in Doha.  I am sorry to say that now I have flown Business, there is no way I am going back!  The space alone is worth it!  Thanks Ian!  I should listen to you more often :+

Coming in through customs was interesting as our plane arrived about the same time as a plane from..... I am guessing Somalia.  There were about a dozen white to beige people and the rest were Indian, African, Middle Eastern.  So if I say we were a novelty, you can work the rest out.

We were delivered by Taxi Shuttle to the Oryx Rotana and dumped our stuff in very nice rooms and went down to the outdoor garden bar to have a drink and a bite to eat.  This would not be a place to really like to tie one on, because the prices are REALLY high, particularly for alcohol.  Of course we are in a resort style hotel, but you cannot buy alcohol anywhere else.  The food so far, is amazing.  Really rich in flavours and definite twists on our usual things that we would see in Tapas.

This morning the air outside the window is Hong Kong-ish and when I woke up at 6, I thought 'wow!  just my luck.  The only rain they ever have and it is when I am here', but no.  That is the air quality.  We are so lucky in New Zealand and every time I venture away, I have this hammered home to me.

Looking forward to seeing the Islamic Museum of Art and the Souq today.

Is That A Piece of White Fur Hanging From Your Mouth?

 I am packing.  Tomorrow we leave for a month overseas.  Some of it in hot places and some of it in cold places, so needless to say the logistics are causing a few problems.

I decided to take the rather beautiful cream possum fur scarf of individual balls all stitched together to form a lovely, warm neck wrap.

Someone else had other ideas!!!  After first denying any knowledge of course......