Doha Event: 2nd Dhow Festival at Katara

After ages of hibernating at home - comes the more tolerable temperature and off we went to see another Doha Event - the 2nd Dhow Festival at Katara. We have attended the first one and we definitely prefer that one. Although, this second exhibition is not that bad - there's free water everyone! Plus there are lots of lifeguard everywhere, however, the dhows are left unmanned. It is also very difficult to climb to the big dhows as it entails jumping off the stairs to the dhows, which has a high risk of falling off to the see - but hey, as I've said, there are lots of lifeguards everywhere, just no one to assist you to actually PREVENT you from falling off the see.

Well, sorry to be such a whiner but it was a real challenge with two kids and one baby in tow - not a really friendly place for family unless we are equipped with lots of nanny, which of course, we are not.

There are also more decorations and activities last year compared to that year, whatever happened to the preparation. I feel that the exhibition was conducted last in minute and they invite whoever is in the harbor that day. (A lot mean, but we really loved it last year!)

There is a taxi ride this year which we didn't see last year but we were not able to ride as well. As ranted, it was not really family friendly.

Was it worth a visit this weekend? Yes, of course, just take a little precaution and enjoy!

And off we go! 

we came around 4PM so there we not lots of people yet  

one of the dhows in the exhibition

Inside one of the boats!

posing by one of the big boats 

see the very unsafe gap from the stairs to dhow!

this is the best attraction in the dhow- very friendly staff as well!

Keep exploring!
 

Doha Event: Cirque De Soleil

We wanted to go watch the Cirque de Soleil and we did! The show was amazing if not spectacular. Sometime last year, we watched the Circus at the Souq Waqif and we were similarly impressed with the stunts.

We didn't book the tickets until the last minute so we were not able to  buy the tickets at Virgin. Luckily, one of our mum friends' nanny got sick (sorry!) so we were able to purchase two tickets from her. One mum's misfortune, another mum's fortune.

It was just two of us, me and Kylie and we had a fabulous time! A quality mum and daughter time ; except at the very end where crankiness got in the way. The show ended after 2 hours and 40 minutes including intermission and since we had the 8PM show, we ended up until 10:40pm.

The most wonderful thing that we noticed is the structure and organization of the show; people were calm, no pushing, no waiting which is really not so common in Doha. The show started at 8PM on the dot!  And we got good seats so it was really a fun show. The show was so audacious so compared to the normal circus, it was easy for us to take their courage and their capability and flexibility for granted.

Our little girl love the wonderful colors on stage and she said she will writing something about this grand show. Let's see what she writes.

Hope everyone in Doha who watched the show had a great time!



Keep exploring!

Doha Event: Summer Market 2012

We've done good selling Turkish Evil Eye the last bazaar we have joined. Now, we will participate in another entrepreneurship initiative - this time, for the Doha Mums Summer Market.

This is the 3rd Summer Market hosted by Doha Mums but our very first time to participate, we are so psyched!


Hope to see you all there! Please stop by our table and say hello to us - or  better yet, buy our products!

Doha Mums 2012 Summer Market  

Venue: Ramada Plaza Doha (ballroom) 

Saturday - 26th May, 2012 @ 11.00 AM

Keep exploring!
 

Doha Event: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE AT VIRGIN AND WE ARE EXCITED! 

This year, we started getting "cultured" and watched Romeo and Juliet for Kidz. This summer we plan to watch Cirque du Soleil with the family. We have read quite great reviews and recommendations we know we won't regret the show. Oh la la! Something to look forward to this sizzling summer 2012 in the desert. Gotta love Doha Events!

Here are some of the details from the news.

The world-famous entertainment group, Cirque du Soleil will stage their longest running show, ‘Saltimbanco’, in Qatar this summer. It will be their first show in the country, and their only performance in the Gulf region for this tour. 

The performances will be held at Aspire Zone from July 4-7 with six shows scheduled to take place over four days. Ticket prices range from QR130 up to QR1,100 and are on sale now from Virgin Megastores and online from  ww.cirquedusoleil.qa. 

Saltimbanco is a fun and colourful show, explained Cirque du Soleil publicist Maxime Charbonneau, adding that the show embodies the values of today’s global community, promoting a message of peace, unity and happiness. 

The show, described as “a vivid portrayal of the diversity that defines a metropolis” is the group’s longest running touring piece, performing to over 11.5mn fans since opening in 1992. It features a dreamlike world, with different characters performing a variety of breathtaking stunts throughout a show filled with colour, music and joy, explained Charbonneau.

Additional Information:

About Cirque du Soleil:
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil evolved into a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from more than 50 different countries.

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Partners:
Cirque du Soleil gratefully acknowledges the St. Regis as their official hotel partner.

SHOW INFORMATION:

VENUE:
Aspire Dome

Show Schedule (July 4 - 7, 2012):
Wednesday, July 4 at 8:00pm
Thursday, July 5 at 8:00pm
Friday, July 6 at 4:00pm and 8:00om
Saturday, July 7 at 4:00pm and 8:00om

TICKETS (Prices in QAR):

GOLD 350
SILVER 250
REGULAR I 175
REGULAR II 130
VVIP 1100
VIP I 750
VIP II 650
PLATINUM 575

Let us know if you watched the show already and how you liked it. Woohoo! 

Keep Exploring!
 

Doha Event: Second International Carpet Show

This is the second international carpet show in Doha. Last year carpet show was much bigger though. We just so happened to be at the Qatar International Exhibition Centre during the QP Environment Fair 2012, so we passed by the carpet show briefly.

I suppose the kids were tired from the environment fair and didn't appreciate much the carpet show as much as they did last year. They did however, enjoyed the "ruins" design and was able to relate it to Turkey. Most of the carpets are from Iran though. And yes, very expensive.

carpets from Iran 

More carpets from Iran

Lots of design to choose from 

No flying carpet for Kylie though

Inpsector Kerim doesn't look like happy!

he was curious about this decor though! 

The Carpet Show this year is until 20th April. We'll try again next year. Who knows we will be able to find our flying carpet.




Keep exploring!
 

More About QP Environment Fair 2012 and Some Tips on How to Save Planet Earth for Kids

We have done a lot in QP Environment Fair 2012 and we simply can't resist to post yet another photo blog!  We have here also some of great tips on how to protect the planet Earth. Some common sense but we all now that common sense is not really that common and requires constant reminder. These environment protection tips are for ALL but let's ASSUME (make an ASS out of U and ME) that adults know this and call this Some Tips on How to Save Planet Earth for Kids.

DO NOT LITTER! 

the green grass grows all around all around!

pretty flower 

watching the aquarium 

the kids had a fun time watching the baby seal 

and the turtle

TURTLE! 

posing with some native

LET'S SAVE PLANET EARTH 

GREAT TIPS!

RECYCLED HOUSE OUT OF PALLETS - AWESOME!

RECYCLED CHAIR

GO GREEN AND PAY YOUR BILLS THROUGH E-BILLS

FREE FOOD - TAKE WHAT YOU CAN EAT! 

LISTEN TO ENVIRONMENT SEMINARS!

DO NOT WATCH TV OR USE TOO MUCH COMPUTER, RUN IN THE MAZE!! 

GET LOST IN THE GREEN MAZE 

RECYCLED CHAIR OUT OF NEWSPAPER

GET TO KNOW YOUR ENVIRONMENT, IN OUR CASE, MARINE AND DESERT LIFE! 

AQUA LIFE

FALCONS!

ENJOYING THE DESERT LIFE

We did a lot of things during the environment fair indeed. A lot in pictures but most of it are intangible. Hoping that the kids learnt a lot about the environment. We have great gratitude to the organizer of the environment fair. We hope that there are more of these events to come in the future.


Keep exploring!
 

Halal Qatar Festival

Halal Qatar Festival is here!

It's that time of the year that we should be enjoying the Qatar Marine Festival. For some unknown official reason, the Qatar Marine Festival 2011 was the last festival. Sad, I know. However, Katara lined up series of "cultural-related" festivals.  We sure hope it will be as fantastic as the marine festival.

So, off we went today to Katara to experience the first ever Halal Qatar Festival. It is a very unique event related to breeding of sheeps and goats. And boy did we find lots of types of sheep and goats. The Turknoys enjoyed viewing them all from their temporary homes.

Baa Baa Baa Baa! Maa Maa Maa Maa!


There are also displays of crafts and product from wool. Unique, educational and fun.

The Halal Qatar Festival runs from 22 - 31 March 2012 at Katara Cultura Village. Enjoy!

Here are our photo blog. We didn't even know that there are lots of types of sheep and goats. Awesome, right?

Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?

brown sheep or goat?

free sheep service for kids! 

white sheep! 

off white sheep

wool! 

billy goats gruff!

inspecting the sheep!

and the sheep inspecting back! 

more black sheep!

these are really way too cute!

baa or maa? we don't know

just look at those ears! LOOONNGG!

white billy goats (or so we think!)

more sheep!

cuddling time! 

brave kids, managed to touch the sheep 

breast feeding time!

ohh grass!

different type of sheep!

they will NOT  be happy being a shepherd!

our unwilling shepherdess!

touching processed wool!

touching dry goat skin! 

in Turkish, this is called TULUM, this is actually cheese or labneh processing at work.
Goat skin with milk! 

goat skin being dried!

yarn!

at the festival, they demonstrate how to make yarn out of wool ! 

they also have market - halal mutton anyone?

we think this one is being aunctioned!

the good old American transportation used in transporting these farm animals!

not really part of the festival and the Turks love these type of cars!

We did enjoy the Halal Qatar Festival. Although NONE of the labels for goat and sheep names are in English. All are written in Arabic. We really didn't get to teach the kids what type these animals are (heck, we don't even know it ourselves!) but it was still pure fun.

There are movies to watch also in big screens. We are just not sure whether there are activities for kids other than watching the animals. We went there one fine afternoon with a little threat of rain, hence we were anxious to leave.

It is really worth to visit!

Keep exploring!