Life on the Spot! Life and Leisure in Doha, Qatar

Qatar Airways has published a statement with regards to what happened on flight 401 from Aman to Doha on August 10, 2006. Apparently, a man tried to force his way in side the cockpit of the plane forcing the male cabin crew members and three passengers to restrain him. The plane had to go back to Jordan and the man, who was an Eritrean national, was handed to the police authorities. There was no given explanation why the passenger wanted to come inside the cockpit.

I’m sure that those on the plane, all 267 passengers and 12 crew members, were terrified. I would be too. I probably wouldn’t even know what to do. With what happened in the US (September 11 attack on World Trade Center), the whole world has been traumatized. Yes, we do complain of some security policies being enforced on us before we board our flights but I’m sure those measures help a lot in keeping our flights secure. While I was reading the report, the first thing that came to my mind was another terrorist got in a plane and tried to use it to serve his purpose of death and destruction. But after analyzing it, there was no report of a gun being used by the Eritrean man who wanted to “talk” to the Captain of Qatar Airways flight 401 so I’m guessing that he might have been mentally unstable instead of being a terrorist. That is part of the trauma brought about the September 11 attacks. When reading something like this, the first thing that comes to mind is what happened before in the US where hijackers supposed to have taken control of those planes.

I’m just glad that this incident isn’t the same. This was probably air rage but not a terrorist act. For scaring the hell out of those people on the plane, that passenger should be meted out a penalty and he should not be allowed to ride any public transportation again.

Posted by xtian001 at 10:02 AM on August 12, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I was on schedule as I went down my building seeing the time on my Picasso. I usually, wake up at 5:45 AM, take my shower, check my email, read some news on MSNBC and leave the flat at exactly 6:15 AM. I’m supposed to start work at 6:30 and with the ongoing road construction, the previously 5 minute drive now takes 15 minutes max. I was going though my usual route, passing through the Airport Round when I suddenly noticed that there was less traffic and the cars in front of me were just passing through what used to be a roadblock! I proceeded with caution as this is new territory for me. I mean, for at least a year, I got used to driving the streets of Doha with closed interchanges and driving on single lane streets where there is work being done. I was even feeling excited as I was driving up to…Bump. I guess they haven’t really merged the old street smoothly with the new one as the asphalt of the new one seems half an inch elevated. Well, that didn’t ruin my excitement that much but with all the space available, 6 lanes at that, I didn’t really know what lane to take. The stop light was working but was lucky enough to get a green light. Do I go straight and pass by the strip of road facing the airport as what I used to do or do I turn left and see if I can use the same route I used to take ages ago. I take left. Wohoo! I felt like I was freed from a cage or something (insert a mushy song about freedom here). It so fast that I kept looking at the car clock to see how much time has been cut off from my travel… Bump. Well, I guess that’s me and my Picasso ending our first run of the newly opened roads at the Al-Mana Exchange towards Ras Abu Abboud.

It’s reported than it is not only Airport Road-Al Mana Interchage which would be opened this week but yet 2 more roads which are the Sheikh Suhaim bin Hamad Road, going from the Ramada Interchange to the Advisory Council junction, and the Ahmed bin Ali Road, that goes from the junction to the TV Roundabout. The would be opened on Tuesday or Wednesday!

Wohoo! I can now wake up at 6 AM and still get to work on time! Wohoo! No more long traffic queues! Well, I still need to deal with the roundabouts… ;(

Posted by xtian001 at 03:09 PM on August 07, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you're flying to Qatar from the Philippines, the only option for you is to fly Qatar Airways (QA). Unless you want to stop over at Bahrain or Dubai, you can probably take Gulf Air or Emirates. However, if you want a straight trip, QA is the answer. Coming to Qatar, you're allowed 20k of baggage. That's why it is always a challenge for me and Mavis to pack our things cause we don't want to exceed our baggage allowance. I'm not sure how much you pay per kilo if you exceed but I've hear that it's like $30-$50. So to be safe, we always get our baggages weighed before leaving for the airport. But that 20k would never be enough if you're travelling with 2 Xbox machines, books, food stocks and clothes. That's why you need to be a member of the Privelege Club. It's their frequent flyer program which entitles you benefits like additional baggage allowance. If you're on their Burgundy Tier, you're allowed 15k more, 25k for Silver card holders, and 30k for Gold status members. Of course, there are more benefits the higher your tier level is. So for those flying to Qatar, I do suggest you enroll in their program as it would help you a lot. I've flown with Philippine Airlines, Saudia, Gulf Air, Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways and I can say that QA is probably next to Cathay Pacific when it comes to quality service. My only complain about QA is for a long haul flight to the Philippines, you sometimes get to ride on a plane without personal entertainment system. You pay a huge amount of money for your trip (even costlier than going to Europe) that lasts 9 hours and what do you get? Nothing. But the worst would be Gulf Air. Imagine, the first time Mavis and I travelled with Gulf Air, they didn't have toothbrushes! But they had toothpastes! So when we we're coming back to the gulf by the same airline, we were ready with our own brushes. But alas, this time, they didn't even have a toothbrush, neither toothpaste! I don't want to fly Gulf Air again. I have never been scared of flying in an airplane. I think I was 12 years old when my family and I went to Hongkong from the Philippines to have a Christmas holiday there. If you think of it in a positive manner, what are the chances of your plane crashing? The odds of being killed on a single trip is 52.6 million to 1. That may ease some of your worries then. Still, if it does happen that your plane crashes, what are the odds of you surviving? That, I don't want to think about.

Posted by xtian001 at 09:37 AM on August 05, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

from Gulf Times:

With only six days remaining for the launch of the country’s bus service, an official of the Mowasalat, the government’ transport company, yesterday reaffirmed that buses would hit the road on October 23 itself as announced earlier. The Mowasalat officials had announced at a press conference on September 28 that buses would run from October 23 onwards.Talking to GulfTimes yesterday, the company official said things are being worked out at a faster pace and ‘temporary’ bus stops would be built in the next few days. “Buses will run from the Main bus terminal near Alfardan Centre to both the Industrial Area and City Center from October 23,” he said. As per the present plans, while the bus number 33 would operate to the Industrial Area, bus number 76 would run to City Center. At least 10 buses would run on each of the two routes, the company officials had announced.

Posted by xtian001 at 04:41 PM on October 17, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I’m going back to this topic as someone emailed me about it asking some more information regarding the buses that are to be seen on the roads of Doha this month. First, people are still hoping that they do get the buses running this month. Being used to the Middle East and its ways, launch and deadlines are just that. You’re lucky if the supposed to be launch date gets followed. They already moved it once so I hope they don’t move it again. But since the school buses are already going round town, I’m confident that they would launch this month. However, don’t keep your hopes up. As this is the first time that they’ll have the buses, it might get chaotic. I haven’t seen any bus stops on the road streets yet nor have they given leaflets regarding these stops and so forth. I’ll keep you posted if I get any news. Now, if you’re going to visit Qatar and would like to go around, Taxis are your best bet if you don’t want to rent your own car. 3 months ago, the cheapest day rent would be 130 rials (costs keep rising in Qatar!). Plus, if you want to rent, you need to at least have a Middle East license or an International license. Karwa taxis would cost you between 15-20 rials per trip around Doha. If you are planning to go from one shopping mall to the other, limousine service (I forgot the name of the company) is available for a flat rate of 20 rials, anywhere in Doha. You may have to wait for 5-15 minutes to get a limousine if one is not readily available. But it might be your only option for malls on the outskirts of Doha and even for City Center and The Mall. But let’s say you got a Karwa taxi to pick you up, you may ask the driver to drive you around town for an hour for about 40 rials (that was the rate asked by the driver when we had to go by taxi). Or if you’re new and want to get to work and be picked up everyday, you can ask the driver to do that for you and he’ll charge you with the rate on the meter. That was what I did when I was starting here instead of renting a car. It was just a cheaper choice although you’re not as mobile as when you have a car. We said to ourselves that we have all the time in the world to explore Qatar when we get our own car. For those who are here for a short vacation, consider renting a car or riding a taxi. I’m not to keen about the buses yet. You may also want to consider the worsening traffic when making your decision.

Posted by xtian001 at 09:46 AM on October 14, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Finally, public transportation will be offered in Doha on October 1^st with the use of Mowasalat buses. The rate for a bus ride within Doha would be 2 QR, regardless of the distance and route. Also, the bus would be divided into 2 areas; an area for women and families and an area for men only. I'm not sure though if they also have separate doors for each much like what they have in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A pass would be dispensed by the driver once you pay him as you enter the front door. You can get out using the middle door to make boarding and exiting organized instead of people bumping each other trying to get in/out of 1 door. Buses would arrive at the designated routes/stops every 20 minutes. Those in the Industrial Area and Wakra have to pay 3 rials.

They have even started offering bus services to schools a month back with their new, Aquamarine colored buses. Parents can ask the school to apply for such service to have the buses collect their children at a designated location and time.

This is good news, right? I guess it is good news for bachelors and those who don't have cars. Imagine all the money you'd be saving by paying just 2 rials instead of getting yourself a taxi each time you want to go someplace else.

For parents and children, they now have new buses to take them to their schools instead of those old ones that the school typically provides (you have to pay them a large sum for getting your kid sit in a rickety bus). The bus is air conditioned plus, each child is assigned 1 seat in which it is compulsory to make use of the seatbelt.

I have some issues with the public buses though. Doha is already congested with traffic and I'm sure the service is going to add to this. How about accidents? Will we see more accidents now that you have these humongous buses trying to get in the same lane with you?

I also read that parents have been wanting the buses to drop their children right in front of their doorsteps instead of having the children walk from the designated pick-up point. Also, how are the schools going to respond to parents wanting to have the service as the schools rake in money by offering their own buses for transport?

update: They now say that they're going to start the service on the 23rd of October

Posted by xtian001 at 09:25 AM on September 28, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)