How to Enjoy The Frozen Yogurt in Doha

The Frozen Yogurt is in Doha.. another one claiming to be the original one. Well, to be fair, this one is really good compared to the previous ones we tried in Doha so far.

So here is their version of how we should "enjoy" our frozen yogurt.

Step 1: Meet some Turkish kids.

Step 2: Figure out how the machine works!

Step 3: Get mesmerized by lots of colors.

Step 4: Select! Select! Lots of choices!

Keep exploring!
 

Turknoys Joined the Summer Culture Swap

If there is one word to describe our Turknoy family, it is DIFFERENT. Differences from as trivial as food preferences to as important as religion and languages. This is what thisblog is all about. 

This blog is about a lot of differences in life within one family, yet the ability to embrace them, build respect and be surrounded by love.


Respect despite these differences - is the most vital lesson we want to inculcate our Turknoy kids. Despite the fact that all individuals take comfort in the familiar, in being a member of group of similar preferences, the ability to thrive in variety and to learn to respect things that are different is a very important value to learn in today's ever changing and ever global world.

When we saw the Worldwide Culture Swap, we were ecstatic to join. As a trial, we joined the Summer Culture Swap and we learned a lot by just studying a lot of things about Qatar. We picked our current home country at the moment since it's easier to grab things about Qatar. And besides, despite being the richest country in the world and being a limelight of the sports events for several occasions, a lot of people from all over the world does not know anything about Qatar. It is our aim to be an "ambassador" of Qatar for this particular group of people who are passionate about learning different cultures worldwide.

Here is our version of the things unique to Qatar:

INSIDE OUR SUMMER PACKAGE: 

1. Arab Coin Bank (in the traditional costume in the Middle East called thobe) 
2. A toy/ decor camel - a very common animal in the desert;
3. A wall decor with Arabic transcription of "Allah" means God in Islam religion; with evil eye, an ornament used in the Middle East to avoid bad luck and attract good luck (a superstition.

Plus 

A post card  from Qatar with Kylie's letter to her new friend from across the globe;

And a detailed map of Qatar with touristic attractions

Hope our package recipient would love the items inside! And we are definitely joining the culture swap for July!


Keep exploring!

Exploring Doha: Cai Guo-Qiang: SARAAB

We tried to change our first impression on the  Mathaf - Arab Museum of Modern Art by getting to know the art behind it. 


And boy, did we changed our mind full turn! It's a MUST SEE EXHIBITION! Once we spent time understanding the art and its medium, we were fascinated. 

SARAAB displays newly commissioned artworks by Chinese-born contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang. The word SARAAB, literally means "mirage" evokes fantastical travelers' vision.

When we watched the series of videos of his works, we can't help but admire his art medium and his message. The artist explores ideas about historic, present day and imaginary travels between Doha and his hometown of Quanztou, China. 

Just imagine art using gun powder, explosion, gold and ceramics to name a few. 

Many of the art works were created here in Doha with assistance of local volunteers. Now wondering where were we? 

The exhibit will be on until 26th May 2012 with a fee of QR 25 but free for all students. It's pretty reasonable to enjoy all the artworks plus a movie and lots of videos. 

The Turknoy kids  enjoyed the videos especially the horses and  creative explosions. 

Oh and by the way, the rocks exhibition are titled "HOMECOMING", every rock has a story.   Guanzhou once had a multitude of cemeteries for Arabs and these rocks symbolizes the tombstones of those Arabs, the exhibition is  at tribute to Muslims and their tombstones.  And they are finally back home. Touching, isn't it. 

One of our favorite among all the galleries in the exhibition is the flying camel and the falcons. Both kids enjoyed the fun part of predicting what comes next after the scene in the gallery. 

Kylie predicted that the falcons will go home to their nests and eat the camel. Kerim simply counted and drew the birds. Left hand side of the brain hard at work. LOL. 

we love the flying camel and falcons!

camel and falcons are basically the symbol of the desert!

our Kerim drawing the camel and counting the falcons! fun!

silly Kylie noting that the falcons are not helping the camels fly; instead the camel will be eaten! hahaha

these are made of wax - great work of art.

We also LOVE LOVE another gallery about the ninety nine horses - especially when we saw how the art work was done for the exhibition in Doha with the participation of a lot of volunteers. Such hard work for creativity. A must see also. This particular gallery is actually the kids favorite. 


For more information, visit the museum's website here: MATHAF. We really highly recommend to spend 2-3 hours in the museum. It's all worth it. It never hurts to enjoy the modern art. Open our minds and heart to new and awesome idea; think outside the box, for the sake of our kids, the future generation. 





Keep exploring!
 

Exploring Doha: Mathaf - Arab Museum of Modern Art

We've been hearing about the Mathaf - Arab Museum of Modern Art for quite some time now from friends and colleagues, not to mention from huge, gigantic, enormous (sorry, practicing the adjective for big!) billboards all across Doha.  So finally, we went there and check our the museum which opened last December.

The kids had fun climbing on the artistic rocks by the entrance of the museum. Although, I don't think this is allowed. The Turk enjoyed the refreshing art collections also by the entrance of the museum.

And it's obvious that we I don't know a hoot about art, so here goes the photo blog. Who knows, maybe someday, the kids will want to explain the art behind these photo series. Somebody help them please as it is really pretty obvious that they can't extract any art sense from their parents.

by the entrance of Mathaf Museum

posing by the rock!

so who's cuter? me or the rock? ;) 

this man bumped into the wall and got cemented! cool!

and the turknoys investigate the scene!

love this!

and this!

love the design of the cafeteria also! artistic.. ;) 

discussing about art? 

rock? LOL - that's all i can say, really. 

having his own version of art interpretation!

Come visit the museum and have fun looking at some art and please do share your interpretation because we know that ours kinda suck - a lot.

And we're with you, this blog couldn't possibly get worse.




Keep exploring!
 

Exploring Doha: Free Gym in Aspire Park!

Well, not exactly a gym but exercise equipment. Good enough to use after a good run around the Aspire Park. It is very close to the kids area and just across Grand Heritage Hotel Doha.

It would be nice to make a routine here in Aspire Park if we really live close by. Who knows come May, we would be moving to this area. After all, we are always exploring in Aspire Park.

hot stuff, husband!

figuring out how the machine works - defective though!

leg press

around we go!

row, row, row your boat!

Keep exploring!
 

Exploring Doha: New Parks in Aspire (2)

We simply just can't get over the new kids area in Aspire Park! After enjoying the bigger kids area close the Aspire Fountain yesterday, they went had to go to the new kids area in front of Grand Heritage Hotel Doha.

This kids area is smaller but there are fewer children. Two months back, this is the area where kids just run around and bike. Now, of course, they can still run around and bike but there will be a little a lot of distraction since the contraptions in the park are very hard to ignore for kids. There are slides, climb ons, swings, balance beam among others.

Another park day in Doha. Awesome!

up and up and up!! 

loving this slide! 

monkey bars again!

walking and balancing! 

oh swing!

7-ft climb! bravo kids!

Keep exploring!
 

Dining Out in Doha: Sizzling Hot Pot Restaurant

There's a new restaurant in town - Sizzling Hot Pot Restaurant in Holiday Villa Hotel. We went there to celebrate our Tata Ayish's birthday. It was a first time experience for the rest, except me who loves shabu shabu and anything hot pot back home. I thought it was the same experience as normal hot pots but it doesn't come close. REALLY!

Sad to say, the restaurant was no good at all for a hot pot. But, of course, we made the best out the situation since it's a birthday treat for our beloved Aunt Ayish.

These are the things we DID like in this new restaurant:

1. Gotta love the "new" expat attitude, fresh from the Philippines. All staff are Filipinos and they are so friendly and accommodating. It's always refreshing to be served by a Filipino who is less than one month in Doha. The best service ever! Of course customer service in hotels is expected to be great but if it's a "newbie" expat - glorious service.

2. Big space - huge, gigantic, enormous restaurant space! Here's us hoping that they would be able to fill such space with customers.

That's it. All the rest are just plain crap!

• The meat is not fresh,
• Fruits are dry (except the dragon fruit!)
• Vegetables are limited.
• Fried rice is horrendous.
• Other desserts were not delectable at all. 
• Sauces are out of this world in a bad way.
• The hot pot is a cheapo hot pot which uses butane! And the fire is very difficult to adjust so we either ate the food raw or overcooked. 
• The soup bowl is plain ugly. 
• There's no exhaust in the restaurant so we all ended up smelling like fried fish or squid at the end of the meal. 
• We can't have a decent conversation during dinner since all of the waitresses are assisting us to cook our food in the hotpot. Four of them around our table while we eat and cook is just uncomfortable. 

the hot pot!

It was supposed to be a new refreshing experience for all. But sadly, it really is not. However, we ended up full despite all the complaints/ rants  below. Of course, at QR95 per person, we tried to eat  ate our hearts out! BURP! 

the little Turknoy is not happy at all! 

the birthday girl is not happy also!

the Turk's thought bubble: I eat out so I don't have to cook! WTF!

the little Turknoy girl is not happy also!

and the Uncle is just plain hungry! BLLHAAA

Needless to say, we won't be coming back again to this restaurant. Shame because it is the "first in Middle East." I don't know which market niche they want to cater too, but if it's for Asian, it is not good enough or if it's for the classy people in Doha, it's not posh enough OR if it's for the "masses or middle class", it is way too expensive. 

Let's just hope that our impression is wrong and they  manage to come up with some aggressive marketing strategy. After all the restaurant just opened last week. 

Keep exploring!