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.