Computer Shops in Doha

The other week, I asked a friend of mine to take me to the building/area where shops sell computers and peripherals. I was planning to look for a WiFi card for my laptop. The area is called Sofitel area because of the Sofitel Hotel that was beside the building before. Now, the hotel is the Mercure Hotel but they still call the computer building Sofitel. The building has 2 floors full of computer shops. It is difficult to find parking in the area so if you find one 2 to 3 blocks away, better to get that parking and walk than go round and round looking a for parking near the area. Anyway, I found out that prices of most computer peripherals are quite expensive here. I guess that is true for the Middle East except for UAE as they have a duty-free port. Plus, most companies have their regional offices there. I was looking for a Wifi card for my laptop as I’m planning set up a wireless network at home once I get my ADSL connection (applied on 30/9 and got the schedule on the 8th of November… Argghhh). This means that Mavis and I can surf the net anywhere in the house without wires, that is if we use the laptops’ battery. I was able to buy a DLink DWL-G650 PCMCIA card for QR190 which is as comparable to cost in the US. Some shops were selling it between QR 200-230. The wireless router costs QR 290 which was quite high considering that it only costs between US$40-55. With most small items that you buy here, you only get limited warranty, usually 3 months. You can buy your usual stuff of web cameras, CD media, hard disks, MP3 players, networking items, laptops, desktop PCs, etc in this building. It can get real busy during the night and shops are filled with customers. If you want some high-end stuff, you can go to Jarir Bookstore near the Ramada signal as they also sell branded computers and peripherals.

Groceries

Here is a list of some grocery items I’ve bought the past 2 weeks and how much they cost. I’m also adding the cost of some basic commodities so you can compare it to the cost in your own country. Soda (Pepsi, Coke, etc) 2.25L = QR 3.50 1 can Soda = QR 1.00 Milk 1L = QR 3.50 Water 5 gal = QR 7.00 Eggs (6 pcs) = QR 2.75 Peanut Butter 340gm = QR 5.50 Butter Bread Loaf = QR 2.50 Sunwhite Rice 2kg = QR 5.75 Macaroni 500gm = QR 3.00 Chocolate Igloo Ice cream 1.1L = QR 6.50 White Beans 1k = QR 6.00 I’ll update this list as I can…

Satellite TV in the Gulf

There are 2 options for expats wanting to watch their favorite television shows and programs in the Middle East. Either you pay to subscribe to a Satellite Pay-TV service of your choice or get Free-to-Air Satellite and watch shows for free. If you’re on a budget and would note necessarily need the channels you’re paying for with the packaged set, your best bet is to get someone to install a satellite dish system for you. Some apartments in Doha already have satellite dishes installed on their rooftops, provided by the owner of the building. If you don’t have it in yours, you could get someone to install the whole system along with the dish for about 600-700QR. With this, you get the dish, 3 LNBs (Hotbird, Nilesat, Arabsat – these are the only satellite available in most of the middle east), cable, and the receiver. You can go to Mergab Street near Al-Sadd (near Doha Clinic) to look for the shops that install this for you. What channels are free-to-air (you can watch them without paying for subscription)? Well, for those wanting English shows/programs, you get the Middle East channels One, MBC 2, MBC 4 (they show some old and new seasons of Gilmore Girls, Smallville, Las Vegas, Survivor, House Swap, Extreme Make Over, Oprah, Martha, Friends, etc. along with English movies). Of course, most would be repeats after a day of watching or two. For news channels, you have BBC News, CNN, and Euronews. You also get Arirang from Korea, Fashion TV, and other channels that show bits and pieces of English programming like Bahrain 55 and Alrai. However, some shops and installers sell a “special” receiver in which you can view some subscription-based programs by inputting their code through the remote of the receiver. You can get new codes, if they change, on the internet. With this, you can watch European channels like Multivision 1-6* (see below for more info on codes) showing Western movies. You also get Eurosports 1,2 and Classic. You get channels from SF DRS and TSR which shows blockbuster movies, classic movies, newer seasons of western series (Lost, Desperate Housewives, Smallville etc.). You have to select the right audio channel to hear the original English track. Some shows don’t have it so you have to settle for French, German or Swede. You also get BBC Prime but not the other BBC channels. If you’re the one who wants to pay for such, here is a rundown of paid TV services. You can visit their website for more details. • Showtime – www.showtimearabia.com Depending on how much you really want to see some of the latest western TV series and shows, Showtime may be your answer. It might cause you an arm and a leg though! Their TOTAL PACKAGE would cost you QR2640 per year and their MOVIE PLUS for QR2388! However, it is fair to say that they have the best programming there is. They have E!, BBC Food, TV Land (24, Friends, CSI, Smallville, Alias, David Letterman, Nip/Tuck and even Desperate Housewives), Turner Classic Movies, Hallmark Channel, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network channel, etc. • Orbit – www.orbit.net “The Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network is the world’s first fully digital, multi-channel, multi-lingual, pay television service”. Mid-priced subscription at QR150/month for their Mega Package. They have Super Movies, Cinema City, America Plus (Everwood, Nip/tuck, cold Case, Smallville, Dead Like Me, ER, Las Vegas, Carnivale), Orbit ESPN, Disney, History Channel,etc. They have Arabic channels like Al Riyadiyah, Cinema 1, Series, Fann, Alsafwa and Alyoum. They now have a Filipino package (PinoyPlus) with syndicated shows from GMA 7, Philippines! • Art – www.adduniverse.com This mostly caters to Asians (India, Pakistan, etc.) as they have exclusive channels for them and they have the cheapest packages too. They have the Firstnet, Art and Pehla bouquets. I’m not sure of what they have right now since I can’t access their site so you have to see for yourself on their website. • The Filipino Channel (TFC) They provide 6 exclusive Filipino channels from ABS-CBN, a media network in the Philippines. They have News Channels, Movie Channels and general entertainment channels packaged together. It is quite expensive and even Filipinos are complaining that for 6 local channels, QR2200++/ year is not worth it. But if you really want to catch Filipino shows, this is your only option. * Codes: For more info on codes, you can visit this forum or view the codes here. For Multivision, usually it requires a firmware/software upgrade for your receiver so check out this forum and see if your receiver supports the upgrade.

City Video: DVD rental in Qatar

We rent Dvds from the City Video in Souq Al-Assiri. It is just across the Filipino bakery. Rent for a DVD is 10 rials and that also goes for VCDs. They also sell DVD's but DVD shops in malls give you a wider array of choices if you intend to buy. They have a good selection of movies for rent. We were able to rent the boxed set of 24 season 4 there (another must watch) and the owner told me he’ll have a copy of Lost Season 1 soon. You can call them up at 441-0717 if you’re interested in renting or looking at what they have on their racks. This Ramadan, they open at 8-11:30 and 12-1 and then they open again at 6 PM. On normal days, they open in the afternoon at 4 PM.

Batman!

I just finished watching Batman on DVD. I was able to rent it yesterday from our DVD rental shop. It is a good movie and very recommendable. I’ve always hated the previous Batman movies as they were more commercial than what I’ve wanted. They were about highlighting the number of archenemies Batman has in that particular movie. They’d bunch them up that there were no real animosity between them but a furious display of effects, costume, makeup, big bangs and stunts. People would say Tim Burtons’ rendition (Batman 1 or whatever it was named) was the best among previous movies but I never was fully satisfied. But this Batman was different. It was about Batman. It delved into his psyche and what makes him tick. It wasn’t much about his enemies but his internal struggle. It was dark as it should be. I would suggest though the hand-to-hand combat be much like the ones from Bourne Identity/Supremacy. I won’t tackle every detail but I do assure you, this is the Batman movie to watch.

The Fairy

Our Yellow Fairy

Smile!

The Fairy Am I a Bee or a Fairy?

Currently watching on TV

Gilmore GirlsI’ve been able to follow Gilmore Girls on TV the past 2 weeks as it has been entertaining. It’s not really that funny nor too cheesy (maybe a bit). It is basically a girlie show as the main protagonists are a mom and daughter tandem, the Gilmore girls. I don’t even know what season it is I’m watching (freshman year of Rory) as I haven’t been following it before. I just find it amusing how Rory Gilmore speaks. She has this monotonous tone of speech and it’s like she doesn’t take breathes in between sentences. Seinfeld Mavis and I just discovered how good this show was early this year. It’s funny and witty. Kramer is hilarious! Probably the best among comedy shows I’ve watched along with Friends, Spin City (Michael J. Fox edition), Perfect Strangers (who could forget Cousin Larry and Balki Bartokomous), and Full House (first TV show for the Olsen Twins). Tru Calling (season 1) Still watching some reruns from the first season. We found out about this show last year and was hoping to see the 2nd season this year on satellite ( I just found out that Fox cancelled it this year after having filmed its first 6 episodes because of some dumb Drama series). We really love this show. I find Eliza Dushku’s way of running weird (she runs almost every episode). It has a great concept and although the middle episodes of the 1st season were becoming repetitious, it became engaging before the season ended. We were left asking for more after the season ender! For Tru followers, you can read the blog of one of the writers on what they could have done for season 2. It really is a loss. Desperate Housewives (season 1) Part comedy and part drama, Mavis caught about 10 episodes before they went packing to the Philippines. I’m not sure if it’s being televised there but it’s on every Monday night here! I don’t have a favorite Desperate Housewife though. Funny at times but the thing that makes me watch it is how the people in Wisteria Lane interact with one another. Smallville (season 3) This is a retelling of the Superman mythos in an interesting way as it deals with Clark Kent’s high school life and how he was shaped to be the greatest hero there is. Miles Millar and Alfred Gough are excellent storytellers. Lois and Clark can’t even compare a bit. I’m still waiting to see season 4 as Mavis and I have already seen season 3. I’m still watching it 5 days a week! Lost (season 1) We finished the season just before Mavis left but they’re having reruns of it. This is the best of all JJ Abrams (Alias, Felicity) series. It’s a must-watch series. Each episode is a revelation; about the characters and about the island. My favorite character would be John Locke and Hurley. CSI (Las Vegas, Miami and New York) Las Vegas is best, followed by Miami and then New York. No one can beat Grissom and his silent charisma among CSI followers. Mavis and I both admire Marg Helgenberger for looking the way she is for her age. Las Vegas has the right balance among its characters and how they show the whole process of criminal investigation. Miami is ok but with more drama. New York is a bore for me and it’s Mavis who usually stays awake to catch it (they show it at midnight). Charmed Yup. It’s still here. Things may have changed a bit; Paige (Rose McGowan) became a sister, Piper has 2 kids while her Whitelighter husband, Leo, is now human (again), and the season ender was they changed their appearances to lead new lives. I wonder how that would turn out. They already are showing the fourth episode of their 8th season in the US. Love the girls, love the show!

Mowasalat Buses: update

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.

Car Rental, Buses and Taxis

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.

The San Juan Blog

As you may have noticed, Mavis has started putting entries on this blog. We decided that she share the space with me instead of creating her own. At least, if I get lazy updating the blog, she could update it with her stuff. Plus, the more entries, the better, right? We’re trying to set some rules though so we don’t post the same thing twice. If I posted first and she wants to add something to it, either we post on the same subject heading or she places it on the comment. I’m also trying to change some of the basic layout of the entries, adding the photos of the poster so people would know who actually placed the entry easily. ON the profile area, I’m also placing separate photos and profiles of us. Usually, what blogger does for a blog with multiple members is to just place the name of the Contributors on that area with links to their profiles. When I get my ADSL account, I’m thinking of changing the masthead and graphics too. So, you’ll see more changes here and there and hopefully, for the better. Anyway, let’s welcome my wife, Mavis, to the world of blogging!

Apple Pie

I don’t know what started my craving for Apple Pie. I think I saw Jaime Oliver or one of those chefs in Ready, Steady, Cook bake one last week. Yesterday, I got some Apple Pie recipes from the internet and listed down what I would need to buy to start my baking. I bought apples, cinnamon, shortening, brown sugar and flour along with a pie dish, rolling pin, and wax paper. I paid about 65 rials for the items and thought that I could buy myself an Apple Pie for less than that and save myself from the trouble of doing it myself. But hey, I have time in my hands. So armed with the items I bought, I found myself kneading my dough for the crust. An hour later, I got myself my Apple Pie. Now, how is it, you may ask? Well, the crust was too thin and too crumbly for me. The pie dish I bought was too big and the recipe I got for the crust was only for a double crusted 9 inch pie. I had trouble trying to fit my crust on the pan that’s why it got too thin. Then, the lattice work for the top had gaping holes because of the lack of available dough! The filling was good though. I love the taste of cinnamon on the Apple Pie so though the recipe I got didn’t ask for it, I placed a teaspoon of it on my mixture. One more thing, I now know how much sugar is placed on an Apple Pie and for me, it’s too much! I’m not one who is into sugar and sweets unlike my mom or my sister. Mavis eats more ice cream than me! I still have ¾ of pie in the fridge which I’ll be stuffing myself for the next few days. I’m not sure though if I’ll try baking an Apple Pie again this year… maybe next year.

FAVC and Web Design

A lot of people have asked me how I got into the business of Web Design. They think that since I’m into IT, I have a degree in computing or engineering. I wish! I then have to explain to them how I became a web designer. I spent my first 2 years of college life taking up Journalism at the University of the Philippines (U.P.) in Baguio. I love writing but then, it was also becoming boring for me. I thought of shifting to the more interactive segment of Mass communication which was Broadcasting, but that meant I had to move to the U.P. Campus in Diliman. I found out, as I was applying, that my grade average was about .2 below the cut (thanks to Spanish 10 and 11) so my next option was Film and Audio Visual Communication which needed a 2.0 average (1 was highest in our grading system). Yup, you read it right. I have a B.A. in Film and Audio Visual Communication. It is a 4-year course. I took classes in Directing, Script-writing, Cinematography, Film Editing, Photography, Experimental film and even Acting (I’m not that of a good actor… he he he). The thing is, I didn’t even know how to start a computer in 1995. Then we had courses in Film animation and Digital Editing and that started it. I got introduced to the world of Photoshop and Premiere. Instead of becoming a Film/TV director, I became more involved with graphics. I got my first PC on 1996 and spent late nights with Photoshop. I got hooked to the web on 1997 and just used it to learn more of computers, the web and web design tools. I didn’t even have a book on Photoshop then and online tutorials were not many. By 1998, I was working part-time as a graphic artist/web designer for a local company and working full time as Head Graphics Artist for a desktop printing shop. Then everything just fell into place. I was offered a job in Saudi as a Web Designer in 1999 and now I’m here! I’m sure a lot of universities already have a specific course for Web Design. The thing is, Web Design is both technical and artistic. You have to deal with the design itself, colors, graphics, elements and then you also have to deal with user-functionality, compression and code. You just can’t say “I want to be a Web Designer” but not deal with the elements of design or not deal with the technicalities involved. Although in a scale, it pays off better to have the inclination with the arts. Companies usually have a dedicated Programmer/Developer to the hard coding for you. Still, you need to know how to code, what the code means and what the code can do. For me, I may not have a degree in computing or engineering, but some things you just to learn outside of the University and excel in it ( at least I think I do).

Chili, Chicken and Leftovers

Just finished lunch. I was thinking of having breakfast of fried eggs (the white almost cooked to a crisp but the yolk still runny), bread and Cheezewhiz but was too lazy to get up the bed. When I felt my tummy begging for food, I rummaged the ref and found out I still had leftovers. I have a bowl of spaghetti noodles, rice, Indian spicy beef, Arabic chicken and the chili which I cooked yesterday. After spending 2 weeks drowning myself with hamburgers, chicken and rice meals from fastfood chains, I decided I may have to cook at one point just to be able to have some variation in what I eat. This week, I cooked chicken marinated in Yoghurt and covered with paprika and flour. I still have a whole marinated chicken in the freezer which I could just pop in the oven if I want to. Yesterday, I made some chili* which is good for like 6 people and which I could be eating a 1 whole week! This is the thing with bachelors and food. I remember the last time I cooked myself Kare-Kare (Beef in Peanut Sauce) in Saudi before I got married. I had to eat it for a week! If you cook a meal for yourself, you usually have to cook an amount good for 2-3 people. Then you get leftovers. Aside from being lazy, it’s one of the reasons why bachelors usually just buy from fast food restaurants instead of cooking. I’m not just too sure if this is truer for expat bachelors vis-à-vis bachelors who live by themselves in general. When I was in Jeddah, I basically ate Al Baik Chicken (best broasted chicken and nuggets!) for lunch and dinner, 5 times a week! You may even have watched the documentary “Supersize Me” in which the guy ate fast food for 1 whole month! I know people who do the same. In Qatar, you have your usual fastfood chains along with the fancier restaurants. You also have an option of buying breads from your corner bakery or meals from small Afghan, Indian, Lebanese and Filipino street restuarants which offer kebabs, grilled lamb, roasted chicken, grilled chicken, and their local specialty. Or instead of hamburgers, you can buy some shawarma. You have a wide array of options and I guess you may spend 2-3 weeks before you get to eat the same meal. I’m ok with that but since I also love cooking, I might as well cook food that I actually want and have the fastfood as an option. I only have to make do with the leftovers ;) *Mavis loves my chili. I was thinking of writing down my recipe but decided to keep it as we might add it to our food list for our future restaurant (dreaming!). He he he.

Work in Ramadan

I woke up at 5:30 last Tuesday to prepare for work as usual. I got out the flat at 6:10 and was amazed at how easy it was to get to the office. Since they closed the Airport RA last friday, traffic became really, really bad even in mornings. I got to the office and saw that only a couple of cars were parked. It must be the start of Ramadan! Well, in my previous company in Saudi, Muslims were the only ones who were entitled to just work 5 hours a day, while we continued to follow the usual work schedule. But here, I found out that they changed all that. Work now starts at 8:30 Am and ends at 1:30! Wow! So I spent the first day of Ramadan staying in the office for 7 hours where I could have just worked for 5 hours. Well, not bad though. I still have a month to enjoy Ramadan, right?

Traffic Jam

They closed the Airport Roundabout last Friday because of the road work they're doing. I guess those of you who are in Doha already know what that meant; TRAFFIC. Chaotic Traffic. People spent at least 30 minutes to navigate the Airport R/A to The Mall RA, which was just a mile in length. Terrible! Ok, a strip of road is still open for car to pass the Airport RA going to the Airport itself or to the Clock Tower RA. But it is not enough with the amount of traffic that passes that area. Yesterday morning, it took me 30 minutes to get to work coming from Matar Al Kadeem. This usually took me just 10-15 minutes max. So I was late for work! And you know what? They're going to close that area for 8 months!

All Alone in Doha

Mavis and Xiane at the Corniche

I’m a lonely guy in Doha. Mavis and Xiane already went on repat to the Philippines for their yearly vacation. Ever since Xiane was born, we decided that they go ahead months before me so that our families in the Philippines could spend more time with Xiane than just my usual months’ vacation. Our vacation became a matter of Xiane and her grandparents. As her family lives in Baguio (a mountainous region well known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines for having cold climate throughout the year) while my family lives in Angeles, which is a 5 hour drive, we split the total days of our vacation with both parties. That means if they come 2 months ahead of me and I stay for a month, we have 4 months to split evenly between the 2. I leave Mavis to do the planning for this one. The moment we get a definite booking for their flight, Mavis starts doing the math. We usually spend most of my vacation in Angeles and just 5 days in Baguio so they spend more time there while I’m still here. Again, we would like to emphasize that days are split evenly, as Xiane’s grandparents might think otherwise. This year, they left on September 16 by Qatar Airways. It is a 9 hour direct flight from Doha to the Philippine capital of Manila. They did arrive safely for which I’m thankful for. They traveled to Baguio this morning after spending some weeks in Angeles. How long will they stay there? Well, the plan is for me to go home on the 22nd of December (arrive there a day after, 23) and the 3 of us go back to Doha on the 22nd of January. This is the longest vacation they’ll have; almost 4 months! That also means I’ll be here in Doha, by myself, for 3 months! I guess the situation of being alone as a bachelor is quite different from being alone with your family far from you. It just a feels lonely! It’s not a matter of not being able to do much in Qatar as I’m typically a home body. It’s the fact that you are not with your wife and your daughter and think of them the whole day; what they’re doing, if they’ve eaten, if they’re already sleeping and what they’re doing at that same time you’re thinking of them. And I’ll feel this way for at least 2+ months. But that is ok. It’s a sacrifice. I was even excited to send them home to the Philippines because I know how much our families were excited to see Xianelle.

Xiane singing at her Mamita's Bday Party!

Everyone is enjoying their vacation. Xiane showed off just the other day by singing a pop song on my mom’s birthday party the Mavis and my sisters planned for her. Mavis was saying that guests were amazed to hear a 2 year old (2 years and 3 months to be exact) kid sing such a song. I’m sure she doesn’t know much of the lyrics but for her to be able to carry a complex tune and not your usual nursery rhyme, is something. My dad, her “Nono” (should be “Lolo” for grandfather in Filipino), has thought her "Rain, Rain Go Away", bought her a bike, a swing, and takes care of her the whole afternoon. Every night, she spends time with my mom, watching Disney, the Cartoon Network, or the DVD’s she bought her. Mavis, on the other hand, has had time to talk and meet with some of our friends in Angeles and just enjoys being a proud mother to our little girl. Hopefully, days, weeks and months would pass quickly. But by the looks of it, it never will until I get on the plane back to Philippines. I miss Mavis and I miss Xiane.