Koi at the To-ji Temple

What is amazing about this shot is it is a single shot with a point and shoot digital camera on single shot mode. The fish was eating cherry blossoms that had fallen into the water and were floating on the surface (the white particles in the water. Do I still use my expertise in understanding fish behavior that I gained while studying Marine Science at the University of Miami to assist my photography? Hell, yeah! How many people do you know still use what they learned in college in their everyday lives?

The Five Story Pagoda at To-ji

The five story pagoda at the To-ji temple complex is the highest pagoda in Japan at 57 meters high.

Mustafa and Ed at the Todai-ji Temple

While I was in Japan I met up with Mustafa. Mustafa is a friend of mine who I worked with at The George Washington University. Mustafa was a student while I was staff.

Mustafa in front of the Todai-ji Temple. The temple is massive. See the people on the steps of the temple.

Here I am with two wooden statue heads in the Todai-ji Temple. Three mean faces!

Here are Mustafa and I at the Nara train station enjoying some Pocari Sweat, heading back to Kyoto.

Buddha and Money

The great thing about Buddhist temples is that there is always free money lying around...NO, these people were making an offering to the Buddha...there is alot of coins on the ground.

Golden Trees at the Golden Pagoda in Kyoto

Afternoon sun turns the trees at the Golden Pagoda...golden.

60 to 90 % 0ff

How do they make any money?

Dude, where are my shoes?

Before going into the wooden floored Zen temples of Kyoto, you must remove your shoes.
Don't worry no one should steal them.

Water Zen Moment

A stone water container in a zen garden in Kyoto.

Two Buddha Boys

Statue in a Zen garden

Suntory Vending Machine

Beer, Sake, and WHISKEY (the bottom right bottle) in a vending machine...the Japanese are awesome!

Happy Maker

Capsule Sweet Capsule

3300 Yen a night with a bed, sauna, pool...massage...restaurant...I spent every night in Osaka in this capsule hotel.

Cool Club Entrance in Osaka

Eight Stories of Stairs at the Osaka Castle

Don't take the stairs at Osaka Castle (like I did), unless you like walking up eight flights of stairs.

Hurry...it nearly gave me a heart attack!

Visiting Osaka Castle in the Rain

Silver Birds

The Japanese just painted right over the birds on this railing...just kidding... these were bird sculptures on the railings at the Osaka Castle.

Club Duty

Partying in Japan is not just a job, it's a duty.

Christmas Themed Japanese Love Hotel

With the women that frequent this hotel with men, this hotel gives new meaning to Santa saying "HO HO HO."

My favorite theme room is Santa's Workshop with the whips and handcuffs...just kidding.

Kathmandu is all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's just fun.

I am fine, a little scratch (picture to post soon, of course I took pictures)...let's just say it was the other motorcycle's fault...I wasn't even driving, I was a passenger...

But I am a big boy and I am not going to go crying home after one little scratch...

More adventures to tell when I get back to Qatar about Japan and Nepal...

Japan to be continued

I will put up more pictures...Kio ponds, zen gardens, Osaka Aquarium, and the Japanese Toy Museum, capsule hotel when I get back to Qatar...to be continued...

Me at the Golden Pagoda

Greenery and gold at the Golden Pagaoda in Kyoto

A Zen moment

A Zen moment from Kyoto.

Taste a Little Samurai Warrior

Samurai warrior costumes at the Osaka Castle...no I didn`t try one on...it was for kids...

Leaving for Japan With Just My Bare Essentials

Just me and my Hamtaro doll.

Snowies

This is my favorite cereal in the Middle East...Poppins Snowies, Sugar Coated Cornflakes! It has so much fiber that I am guaranteed a BM in the PM, if I eat it in the AM. The cereal is produced in Lebanon and congeals in my intestines like concrete, so that when it comes out...WOW!

Here are some interesting serving suggestions for Snowies.

Warm milk in Snowies Frosted Flakes???...YEECH! Heck yeah, it better be cold if you are going to serve it to me!

Also, if you were concerned about the ingredients.

Why is this on the box? Remember, Muslims can't eat pork. So they need to inform people that the cornflakes weren't cooked in pig fat. Also, like with candy bars (think Twix and Snickers made with the same machinery and someone with peanut allegeries and you get the idea), they need to tell people that this cereal wasn't made with the same machines used to make pork products. But then again, have you ever heard of "Piggies", the pig flavored cereal...neither have I.

From dating a wonderful Jewish woman who loved to cook, I learned that in the US many items have symbols for Kosher (K) and Parve (circled U) according to keeping kosher in Jewish law.

One last thought, Snowies mascot is a penguin...get it sugar coated (ie. frosted)...get it... frost...cold...snow...penguins.

Qatari Jam Session

Qataris playing traditional musical instruments in Souq Waqif.

Antique Shops in Qatar

These shops in Souq Waqif sell an eclectic mix of the "old" and new.

If you like their driving, you'll love their parking...that WAS a Mercedes.

"A serious one-car accident in the...parking garage this morning. Reportedly, the damage was caused by a car hitting a pillar at a speed considerably higher than reason would dictate for a parking garage with numerous blind spots, pillars and pedestrians," said a source.

Several Qataris came out of class to survey the damage and make a social event out of the affair. On the left you can see that one Qatari has lifted up his thobe so that as he surveys the accident, he doesn't get coolant on his thobe leaking from the car's radiator.

That WAS a Mecedes!

Giving Credit, Where Credit Is Due

Texas A&M University has just completed their new building in Education City, so they are holding inaugural lunches in the old building. In the area where they are holding the lunches in the old building, they have hung signs. I think giving credit, where credit is due. In other words, if it wasn't for gas and the profit that it gives gas companies and countries that profit from gas reserves, some education probably wouldn't come "bought and packaged" to this region of the world.

Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil Announce Completion of RasGas Train 5 Liquefied Natural Gas Project

Texas A&M University's new building is completed (March 19th) the same time as the RASGAS Train 5 Liquified Natural Gas Project (March 20th)...coincidence???

ExxonMobil Corporate Headquaters

Las Colinas Boulevard Irving, Texas 75039-2298 (972) 444-1000

ExxonMobil Exploration and Producing Operations

800 Bell Street Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 656-3636

ExxonMobil Chemical

13501 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77079-1398 (281) 870-6000

Do you see a TEXAS theme anywhere???

Driving Behind a Propane Gas Truck

Many people in Qatar have their cooking energy needs supplied by natural propane gas instead of electricity. The propane taanks are hooked up to stoves directly or hooked up to attachments outside the kitchens of some homes. Driving around you will often see these trucks with rusty metal propane tanks in the open bays of the trucks driving around Doha. They put these signs on the back of their trucks "for safety reasons."

Definitely not a truck you want to accidentally rear end.

Giant Clam Shell Shaped Building on the Pearl

Supposedly there is a scale model of The Pearl inside this building.

See:

http://www.thepearlqatar.com/intro.htm

http://www.thepearlqatar.com/main.aspx

Veterinary Center in Qatar

For your pet cat, dog, horse, or CAMEL!!!

Parking Warning

The broken down car in the parking lot...I bet the owner of this car is really worried now.

Nikon L6

I went ahead and bought the Nikon L6 at a store in Doha. They had a decent price on it.

It does matter what camera I bring to Japan, especially since I am going to be staying in capsule hotels the entire trip, so I need a small camera, not an SLR.

I also want to go to clubs without carrying the big SLR and looking like a tourist and I want a small party camera to take to events in Qatar as well.

The L6 is smaller than my last point and shoot.

Going to Kathmandu

Like Bob Seger said on his Beautiful Loser album, I am "goin' to Katmandu."

I'll be in Nepal from April 5-9, but not before heading to Osaka and Tokyo (again, God I LOVE that place) from March 26-April 2.

My point and shoot camera broke and the prices for a new one are too high in Qatar, so I will have to look like the Ugly American tourist and carry my Nikon SLR on both trips. I am going with a small daypack, so at least I won't have much to carry otherwise...one trip, one pair of underwear.

If You Like Their Driving, You'll Love Their Parking...On the Way

Finally, the security guards have started ticketing cars parked in the lanes of the parking garage.

But I think this person has more to worry about than a first-time parking warning sign. This car is leaking oil, covered with sand/construction dust, and has been adandoned in the parking lot for a few days.

Lack of Security in the Middle East

On the news you always hear talk about security in the Middle East.

Well, here in Qatar they take security seriously...sometimes.

Like when the electronic security gate which can only be opened with a Staff or Student Smartcard is broke OPEN:

Like when the guard desks are unmanned at the loading dock of our building:

I wouldn't care so much, except for the fact that the loading dock is directly below my office.
Good thing there are constant patrols and guard gates BEFORE you get to my building as well as Qatar Special Police parked outside the complex and in my office I have a 24 inch concrete floor with 2 inch steel-reinforced flooring on top of it with an 18 inch buffer of space.

It reminds me of the line from Apocalypse Now.

[while flying in a helicopter with Air Cavalry soldiers]
Chef: Why do all you guys sit on your helmets?
Soldier: So we don't get our balls blown off.

Local Doha News from the Gulf Times

A Doha court sent a Turkish national, accused of having illicit relations with an Indonesian housemaid, to jail until a final verdict in the case is given. The Muslim man initially confessed to the charge but retracted his statement after he learnt that the penalty for such an offence was stoning to death according to the Shariah. The woman, also a Muslim, denied the charge and claimed she was not married.

http://www.gulf-times.com

Beans, Beans

Beans, Beans
They're good for your heart
The more you eat
The more you fart

The more you fart
The better you feel
So eat your beans at every meal

It seems like every lunch meal in Qatar that I eat has beans in it...

Google Earth Updated for Qatar

Check out Qatar on Google Earth.

The way I know that Qatar has been updated on Goggle Earth is that they have updated the satellite picture of Palm Tree Island.


This is what Palm Tree Island looked like before the Asian Games in December.

This is what Palm Tree Island looks like now after the Asian Games.

Why did the Qataris get rid of all the trees, grass, swimming pools, restaurants, and go cart track that were a haven for expats?

Supposedly, this is where the beach volleyball tournaments were going to take place during the Asian games, but that never happened.

Rumor has it that they wanted to make the island back into its orginal state as a sand bar.

Here's another thing - It is called Palm Tree Island, but the ONLY tree on it now is NOT a palm tree.

Virgin Megastore now open in Qatar

A branch of the Virgin Megastore recently opened at the Villaggio in Doha, Qatar.

Now you will find books, CDs, and DVDs that before you had to either hand-carry into the country yourself from outside Qatar or have shipped for ridiculous prices from businesses outside Qatar.

The prices on items in the store are higher than you would find in the States, but if you just gotta have that Lonely Planet book of Japan because you are going next week, then you are in luck.

Oh, and they don't sell virgins...although there are plenty in Qatar, mostly expats.

Also, the gondola rides in the canals of the Villaggio Mall are not ready yet, but I give them a week and they should be ready.

John left Qatar and all he got was this baby

John's going-away present...Mike and Molly's baby...just kidding.

Never Throw At Anyones Head.

Never throw at anyones head...where's the fun in that?
What else is there to aim at when you are swimming in the pool?

Dry Grapes

Dry Grapes=Raisins

Keep the plastic or remove the plastic?

So the big question is:

Do I keep the fresh from the dealership plastic on the seats (like the Qataris do) or do I remove the plastic on the seats?

Plenty of trunk space

My new car has trunk space for two, maybe three, small children.

My Fuzzy Balls

I just put the fuzzy eight balls and fuzzy dice that I brought from the US on the rearview mirror of my new car.

When you read the title of this entry, did you think I was going to talk about something else?

My New Car

Since John left Qatar and I am no longer co-leasing a car with him and because you can't survive in Qatar without a car since walking anywhere can kill you because of the heat and the public trasportation system is still a fledgling operation that doesn't go anywhere I need to go (ie. work), I have bought a 2007 Hyundai Tuscon SUV (4WD 6 cylinder 2.7 liter engine)...copper, so I can hide out in the desert if I need to...and very cheap on gas especially when gas is $.83 USD...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

There's no such thing as flavored water.

There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.

This book title jumped right out at me from the shelf at the Jarir Bookstore, so I had to buy it.

And before you ask, NO, I have not converted to Islam.

My Nikon Coolpix 7600 Died

My Nikon Coolpix 7600 died.

I should be mad. This is the second Nikon Coolpix that I have owned that died prematurely (I think).

When I come back to the States, I will be in the market for a new point and shoot camera.

For now I will use my Nikon D70.

But without my point and shoot, no more inconspicuous traveler. If I want to photograph, I will have a big SLR hanging around my neck.

TP in a Public Bathroom

There is a certain sadistic fun to being the person who used the last of the toilet paper in a stall in a public bathroom.

What are you supposed to do morally and ethically? It is not your responsibility to make sure there is enough toilet paper for the general populace. There is no one to tell that the toilet paper has run out (unless there is a custodian standing around) and you shouldn't have to run to the market and get more toilet paper to put in for the next person.

All you can do is smile that sadistic smile and laugh a little, thinking of the next person stuck in the stall cursing you - the person who was last in the stall who used up the last of the toilet paper.

India or Nepal?

In April, India or Nepal?

Gin and Coconut

Usually, I don't like coconut treats, but my pantry was pretty bare last night and I was too lazy to go to the corner market, so last night I had a Gin and Tonic with a "refrigerator-chilled" milk chocolate Bounty Candy Bar that I had left over from a candy bar variety pack and to my suprise the combination was good...try it...if you can.

According to Wikipedia, "although Mars is an American company, Bounty bars have not been available in the United States since the mid-1990s due to competition with Almond Joy and Mounds."

If in the US, substitute Almond Joy or Mounds...but I am not a big fan of almonds either...so for me it would be Mounds...HUHUHUH...mounds.

Also, Mounds are dark chocolate and Almond Joy is milk chocolate. I had the Bounty with the blue wrapper which is the milk chocolate variety. The dark chocolate Bounty comes in a red wrapper.

So if you want milk chocolate coconut without the almond and you are in the US, bite into an Almond Joy and spit out the almond...if you have had several gin and tonics this could get messy or fun, or both.

8 hours a day

8 hours in the work day...gotta fill 'em with something.

Disney's Piglet Banned in the Middle East

See this blog post about Piglet being "banned" and then read my further investigation below.

http://www.qatarliving.com/blog/camper/disneys-piglet-banned-in-middle-east


This past weekend I went to Jarir Bookstore, but couldn't find the book in question.

I did however find plenty of books NOT BANNED OR CENSORED with pigs on the cover and illustrated in stories: for example, several versions of The Three Little Pigs in book, CD, and DVD and pigs on/in books about farms AND there were NEW Charlotte's Web books where the central character is a pig!

Why was Piglet banned out of all this? I think it is a conspiracy against DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This brings up a new question...How will the Muslim world handle the new popularity of Charlotte's Web staring Dakota Fanning with it's subversive PRO-Pig message? Maybe they will embrace the message of Charlotte's Web which is to NOT slaughter pigs but to save them so they can talk to spiders.

Next...banning porcine liguistically inclined spiders....