Aspire Tower

The Aspire Tower is the big tower between Villaggio Mall and the Khalifa Stadium. During the day it is quite an impressive structure and is a good sighting landmark when you are negotiating your way around Doha as you can see it from miles away.

However, at night it is really impressive with a multitude of computer controlled lights and some big TV screens (adverts?) in the side.

There is a hotel inside the Aspire Tower now that is called the Torch. There is also a revolving restaurant too.

Some details about the Torch Hotel at Booking.com

Happy New Year

Qatar Technology and Gadgets Zone Group

This Group on Qatar Living has lots of members and lots of posts, so I thought that you should know about it. I am not too clued up on this sort of thing and can manage light switches but still cannot find the silent mode on my mobile phone.

However, if you are a techno or a geek then get down to this Group in Qatar Living and join up to see what's happening in this area.

Qatar Technology and Gadgets Zone Group

Gulf Times Newspaper and Website

The biggest selling local newspaper in Qatar is usually to be found around most cafes and you can therefore get to read this for free. However, you can also purchase copies from the supermarkets and shops as well.

Printed in colour every day with good quality photos and with a magazine in the Friday edition. The usual features of international news, local news, editorial, sports and classifieds.

The Gulf Times also has a website too.

Aryaas Pure Vegetarian Restaurant

This is another recommendation for an Indian vegeterian restaurant from my work colleague Aloma who is from Sri Lanka, so she must know what she is talking about. The restaurant is situated down in Al Mansoura near the B Ring Road.

The telephone number is 4441 9668 (or according to Qatar Living it is 44360097

Some further details can be found at:

Qatar Living

The Peninsula Qatar newspaper



Qatar Tribune newspaper and website

For the size of the place, Doha/Qatar has quite a few local newspapers in English. One of these is the Qatar Tribune.

It has all the usual features: international and local news, sports and advertisements too.

Pick one up at a newstand, look at one in a cafe or trot along to the Qatar Tribune Website

Talking Matters Toastmasters Club Website

I have been a member of Talking Matters Toastmasters Group since January 2011 and I thoroughly enjoy going along to the fortnightly meetings and listening to speeches and also overcoming my fears by making some speeches too or undertaking some of the roles there too.

Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month starting at 7pm at the Oryx Rotana Hotel that is near the Airport.

I am also on the Executive Committee (The Excom) as Secretary and we are proud to announce that Talking Matters now has a website too. Please click on the link below and check it out and make sure that you come along and join us too!!!

Talking Matters Website

Talking Matters Toastmasters Meeting on 26 December 2011

The next meeting of the fantastic Talking Matters Toastmasters Club is being held next Monday, the details are:

Date: Monday 26 December 2011

Time: 7pm to 9.30pm

Venue: Oryx Rotana Hotel (near the Airport)

Come along as a guest and hear the wonderful prepared speeches from the P1 Ice Breaker to the more advanced speakers. Understand how the speeches are positively evaluated. Maybe you will get the chance to participate in the lively Table Topics session too?

As a guest you get in free, get a nice drink at the interval with biccie as well as getting the opportunity to network and make new friends.

Come along and join us!!!

The British Club in Qatar Living

Being British msyelf, I have joined up for this group on Qatar Living. Feeling a bit homesick and wanting to pal up with some fellow countrymen, then you need to join up to this on line group too. It has quite a few members and has a load of posts for you to browse through and pick up information about life in Qatar and much more.

The British Club in Qatar Living

Khalifa Stadium in the Aspire area

The Khalifa Stadium is in the Aspire area, it has the huge Aspire Tower next to it and is next door to the Villaggio Mall too.

They have local football matches here generally and other local sporting events, finals etc.

However the yearly trip to Doha by Brazil usually provides my reason for visiting. Tickets for these friendly games can be had from local outlets and Malls. The last three fixtures have been Brazil v England (2009); Brazil v Argentina (2010, pictured) and Brazil v Egypt (2011). The matches are friendlies and to be frank the atmosphere is a bit sanitised and lacks the excitement of a Premier League or England at Wembley etc match. However the opportunity to see some of the greats (I saw Ronaldinho and Messi last time) is too good to pass up.

Columbus Cafe in Villaggio

This coffee shop has a prime location between Virgin and the cinema in the dome area of Villaggio Mall. It has tables and comfy seats outside (still inside the Mall and with AC!) in the dome area too.

The coffee is generally good as is the selection of food. I don't go there too often as it is often crowded that is a good sign in some ways but off putting in others.

Suffers a bit with some people smoking there although the entire Mall is supposed to be non smoking. That too is not very endearing either, however worth a trip if you can avoid this.

Some posts on Qatar Living

Talking Matters Toastmasters Club Meeting on 28 December 2011

The next meeting of the fantastic Talking Matters Toastmasters Club is being held next Monday, the details are:

Date: Monday 28 December 2011

Time: 7pm to 9.30pm

Venue: Oryx Rotana Hotel (near the Airport)

Come along as a guest and hear the wonderful prepared speeches from the P1 Ice Breaker to the more advanced speakers. Understand how the speeches are positively evaluated. Maybe you will get the chance to participate in the lively Table Topics session too?

As a guest you get in free, get a nice drink at the interval with biccie as well as getting the opportunity to network and make new friends.

Come along and join us!!!

Faces Beauty Store in Villaggio Mall

Whenever my after shave runs out my wife always takes me along to Faces Beauty Store that is in Villaggio alongside the Canal and next door to Marks and Spencer and near the 1882 Cafe.

This visit is always a bit of a tussle as I am keen to just get what I got last time and get out. My wife wants me to try all the proffered samples and others as well as getting some perfume for herself too. She always wins and I generally end up getting two bottles of after shave.

However, the staff try hard to show you what is being promoted and there are often free samples or gifts to be had.

Faces Beauty Store have a Facebook page

Qatar Construction Group in Qatar Living

A good place to swap ideas, make new friends and find out about all sorts of things going on in the construction industry in Qatar. I work in this industry and it is a source of information that you should sign up to if you are in the industry.

With the World Cup coming to Qatar in 2022, interest in construction is bound to grow, so use this group to keep in touch and keep abreast of local matters in construction.

Qatar Construction Group

Star of India Restaurant Doha

Another recommendation from my Sri Lankan work colleague Aloma and this one is the Star of India Restaurant that is situated near Doha Municipality on Khalifa Street.

The phone number is: 4486 4440

Have done a bit of research on the internet about this restaurant and the links are:

Time Out Doha 

Qatar Living

The New Metro in Doha

Doha has a new Metro planned (2011 as I write) and this looks as if it is going to be pretty extensive across Doha with many lines. At the time of writing we have seen little/no signs of the Metro starting on the ground, I assume that it is now in the planning and design stages.

However there are a few bits of news about it on the net so maybe you can check these out in the meantime so that in some years time you will know the Metro station near you and how you can get around in Doha:

Doha Metro Website

Railway Technology Website

Subways.Net

Al Sultan Textiles and Tailoring - Clothing Repairs and Alterations

This is the shop that my wife likes to go to for repairs to clothes and alterations as well. It is situated at the junction of Al Miroab Road and Al Jadeed Road that runs parallel with the Salwa Road and sort of behind the Jarir Bookshop on Salwa Road.

The shop telephone number is 4444 9257

Prices are very reasonable, they do a good job punctually. There are a few seats to sit on and watch the fun. The front of the shop is three benches with Indian men all sewing away with a big workshop in the back with sewing machines on the go.

All of the men serving have bare feet that I always find amusing, and worth going to for these matters.

Home Centre for Christmas Decorations

My wife is intent on getting a garland/wreath for our front door to celebrate the Christmas season. However we are not having much luck!

We visited Home Centre that is in Centre Point that is also called Al Asmakh Mall on Jawann Street near Sports Roundabout. We did not find a suitable garland but they did have a reasonable selection of Christmas decorations.

The usual things were stocked, artificial trees, ornaments, lights etc. Worth popping in there to see what they have as well as all the other furniture etc. that is in the store too.

The atmosphere in the Christmas part of the store was pretty uplifting too.

The Peninsula Qatar Newspaper and Website

The Peninsula is an English language newspaper that is published each day in Qatar. It is on pretty good quality paper with colour photos.

It also has a good website of news at: The Peninsula Qatar

There are sections on the website for business, sport, lifestyle, editorial, and sections of the world news. It also has a very good archive that is searchable too for all things Qatar.

So either pick up your paper copy in a shop or bookmark the link above.

The Champs Elysee Christmas Shop

My wife and I visited the Christmas decorations shop called Champs Elysee in Al Miroab Street. If you are heading down the C Ring Road, go across the Ramada Crossroads towards La Cigale Hotel, you need to do a U turn at the first junction after the Ramada crossroads. Al Miroab Street is on the right after Hardees. This shop is a little way up on the left hand side.

I bought a Christmas stocking for my Mum and Dad's cat! It is full of stock when we went (early December), the usual things such as tinsel, fake Christmas trees, cards, ornaments etc.

For me the quality was not great and the prices seemed more than the goods were worth. However if you are in the area maybe you can pop in for a browse and make up your own mind?

I Love Qatar Website

Another local website with tons of information including news, events, blogs, classifieds, eating out and generally making friends in Qatar.

The website is called I Love Qatar

Head on over there and see what else you can learn about Qatar and Doha!!!

Talking Matters Toastmasters Club Meeting on Monday 12 December 2011

The next meeting of the fantastic Talking Matters Toastmasters Club is being held next Monday, the details are:

Date: Monday 12 December 2011

Time: 7pm to 9.30pm

Venue: Oryx Rotana Hotel (near the Airport)

Come along as a guest and hear the wonderful prepared speeches from the P1 Ice Breaker to the more advanced speakers. Understand how the speeches are positively evaluated. Maybe you will get the chance to participate in the lively Table Topics session too?

As a guest you get in free, get a nice drink at the interval with biccie as well as getting the opportunity to network and make new friends.

Come along and join us!!!

Qatar Living Volunteers Group

The introduction on the Group page for Volunteers reads as follows:

No feeling can be compared to the good of the feeling of satisfaction after helping others.Let’s challenge ourselves and see how far we can go without self-centeredness! Let’s embrace positive attitudes towards society!!

There is tremendous satisfaction in giving your time and energy to others, particularly those in need. Check out this group and I am sure that you will get back more than you receive:

Qatar Living Volunteers Group

Bombay Silk Centre, Salwa Road

This is a two storey shop along the Salwa Road that sells all manner of materials, and will also make up clothes and garments for you. This shop appears to be more for the ladies and appears to lean towards saree material etc.

It is at the Alain Complex opposite Hardees, near the second roundabout after Decoration Roundabout as you head out of Doha.

The telephone number is 4416 9348

For the gentleman waiting around for their wives there are plenty of seats to sit and wait in the shop or a few doors down there is Caribou Coffee for the longer trip :-)

Some details of the Bombay Silk Centre in Qatar Living

Spare Parts and Repairs

At the time of writing it is Eid (early November 2011) and we need a new hose for our hoover as the old one has gone (it is a Black and Decker) and we are advised that the place to go is Al Muftah Service Center. This will reopen after Eid.

Therefore if you are looking for some spare parts for some domestic appliance or a repair then you too should head to:

Al Muftah Service Centre

This is situated along the Al Wakrah Road, that is the road that extends from Airport Road. So, taking the Airport Road heading towards Al Wakrah you will see the Al Matar Petrol Station on your right hand side and approximately 100 metres after this you will find the Al Muftah Service Station so it is pretty easy to find.

It has a host of phone numbers that are:

4465 0110

4465 0880

4465 3261

Working hours normally are:

7 am to 12 noon

3 pm to 6pm

The ticket that I have does not indicate whether the place is open on Saturdays, so please ring to check. Closed on Fridays I would have thought?

Talking Matters Toastmasters Club Meeting on Monday 12 December 2011

The next meeting of the fantastic Talking Matters Toastmasters Club is being held next Monday, the details are:

Date: Monday 12 December 2011

Time: 7pm to 9.30pm

Venue: Oryx Rotana Hotel (near the Airport)

Come along as a guest and hear the wonderful prepared speeches from the P1 Ice Breaker to the more advanced speakers. Understand how the speeches are positively evaluated. Maybe you will get the chance to participate in the lively Table Topics session too?

As a guest you get in free, get a nice drink at the interval with biccie as well as getting the opportunity to network and make new friends.

Come along and join us!!!

Egyptians in Qatar

There are some great groups in Qatar Living and there is one especially for Egyptians. Our neighbours are from Egypt and they always make us very welcome so it is probably a good idea to join up to this group, they will treat you well in my experience.

The group has 600 members so there will probably be just the information that you are looking for.

Qatar Living Egyptian Group

Life on the Spot Blog

This is another blog about Doha and Qatar that is worth a look, the blogger keeps it up to date at the time of writing (November 2011).

It has topical offers on the site as well as local news items and opinions.

Head over and check it out at Life on the Spot

Football Qatar Blog

This is a blog that is specifically about local football in Qatar. It has results, fixtures and reports on matches. It has had (at the time of writing early November 2011) nearly 90,000 hits so it is a pretty impressive piece of work (I am still aspiring to get to this figure!!!).

If you want to know more detailed information about local football then you need to check out the blog at:

Football Qatar

Doha Rugby Club

I had the misfortune to go to a rugby English Grammar School and I am sorry to say that it put me off rugby for life. My childhood memories were stolen and put into a book called "Fever Pitch" by Nick Hornby who was in the year above me there.

However, I know that there are plenty of people out there who love the old egg chasing game so you should check out Doha RFC and see what they have to offer both on and off the pitch.

Their website is Doha RFC

Qatar 974 Website

This website describes itself as "

"Qatar974 is a directory for people living in Qatar that lists events, restaurants, shops, schools, services, sports and special offers - in addition to a free classifieds section."

Plenty of useful information on the website and worth a look over to fill in some gaps in your knowledge.

The link is Qatar 974

Personal Trainer Recommendation

If you are looking for a personal trainer that will come to your compound and give you personal training, the you need to contact the one that my wife uses. She has improved her fitness markedly over the past few months while she has been seeing him.

Marcio speaks both English and Portuguese and he will make you fitter in no time at all

Ring Marcio on 6627 1430

Or email:

·         ms_leite@yahoo.com.br