Istanbul

Work has been just a little crazy here as well as some commitments i have back in NZ. We had the Eid break and so I took the opportunity to book a last minute flight to Turkey.

Istanbul is full of colour. Some of this is the fact that every inch is built upon so you don’t have the sand of the desert. Bu the people have colour, a style to them that you don’t see in Qatar. For the women it is their scarves. The muslim women wear silky multi-coloured scarves. There is the occasional abaya’d up women. They are few and far between and tend to be older. The men wear suits. Some are shiny black, silky black. We would call them sleazy in NZ but somehow they are just part of the colourful melting pot which is this city

Carla's handiwork

In the foyer of the Sharq they had this huge christmas tree and ginderbread house which was being set up for an event later in the weekend where they would put on lights and have carols. The kitchen staff were busy putting the finishing touches on the gingerbread house. Carla convinced the bloke that she could do the job so he handed it over to her to finish.

A Spyder

This too was in the Sharq. Not my favourite but still a very nice car. Note the christmas tree in the background.

The Sharq

High end hotel. We went there for a drink on Thursday night to celebrate the Eid break. Now with high end hotels you can expect to pay high end prices. I was on driving duty so was on the perrier and flat whites whereas the others were having a quiet ale and the odd mojito. A corona stubby set you back $NZ30 and a mojito close to $40. Still wonderful surrounding and setting.

Inside the Museum

No Limits

Architects have a field day here

Like the sign says

Another interesting thing I saw on my walk.

Rain

I was sitting having a coffee and reading the paper at the mall when I looked at and saw rain. Not just a trickle but a torrential downpour. This was big and given that I had walked the 7 odd kilometers here and was planning to walk back I decided to sit it out. Well after half an hour and with thunder and lightning and considerable rain I decided to catch a cab. I think I would have been safer walking. The amount of water on the roads was amazing. They have no drains so there is no where for water to go. Oh yeah. It rains dirty as well. Ell for the first part it does as it pulls all of the sand and dust out of the sky. So your clothes are dirty and have brown marks all over them.
So I’m in the taxi queue and stat talking to the bloke next to me. We agree to share a cab as we are heading in the same direction. He’s a young german bloke who is flying out that day after spending six months setting up a high end hotel. I jump in the front. Miscala Kabaira – Big Problem. The seat belt doesn’t work. Well my little Kerela taxi driver can see the rain because he has put the wind screen wipers on but it doesn’t change his driving pattern. He floors it, as does every other idiot out on the roads. No ideas about driving in the rain. We get overtaken by a big landcrusier on the inside whose bow wave …yep the water is deep in places covers our bonnet. I suggest to my drive that he may want to pump the brakes a little as we screaming towards the roundabout. Ahumdilahlah – thanks be to god I get home safely. Usually I tip all my drivers as they get paid very little. This time the tip was…”slow down in the rain next time buddy”

Ice in the desert

Another wonderful example of this city. Into the shopping mall to buy my jersey. There’s a game of ice hockey on. Two of the big malls here have ice skating rings and with a large North American presence in the country why not?

Perfect Weather

A lovely day for a walk. It started out about 20 degrees and was close to 27 when I had a wee lie down on the grass with the ants in West Bay. The water was like glass. This was my view when I looked up.

National Day

National Day in this country is the 18th December. Not sure how much pomp and ceremony there will be but there was a lot of construction along the Corniche with seating being installed. Must be a parade of some form. They have replanted a number of the flower beds…in the national colours.

The walk

Need to get a jersey for Turkey. It has been quite nice there in the last week or two judging by the weather. But a quick look at the forecast for this coming week and temperatures between 4 and 9 degrees are going to be a little tough. Thought I’d walk down to City Centre as my exercise for the week. You see lots of interesting sights.. a man and his wife fishing

Good Design

For those who come to the museum who are blind or are lost... people can find their way with these. There is a no touching policy but they have audio books that take you around the exhibits.

Mishkala Kabaira

Obesity is a big issue (excuse the pun) here in Qatar. Given their diet and lack of exercise it will be a problem that won’t go away. They have significantly high levels of people with diabetes.

More pics