Thursday, September 30, 2010

DJ Tiesto at the Intercontinental


Ticket for 300 QR


It was such a unique experience to easily be able to see DJ Tiesto so close!  I was able to dance right in the first row in front of the stage!




We danced and raved on the beach under the moon with the fantastic view of the city beside us.

Umm Al-Hanaya and Yemeni Honey


Umm Al-Hanaya in Souq Waqif is a nice sheesha bar that even serves tempura! 


Um Alhanaia / Umm Al-Hanaya


We tried some Yemeni honey at this shop, Mareeb Yemeni Honey Center, in the souq.  It was delicious with a flowery taste.

Al Adhamiya in Souq Waqif


Al Adhamiya, an Iraqi restaurant in Souq Waqif


Iraqi bread and mixed appetizers (45 QR): olives & carrots, hummus, cucumber & tomato salad, and baba ghanoush


Tachreeb meat: bread soaked with a tomato & onion sauce with meat in the center (39 QR).  Delicious!!!


Cashunut cocktail (14 QR) and red tea

My friends got Iraqi baja (goat brain with bread which she says is very, very good, 38 QR), kabab Iraqi (45 QR), and chicken tikka (40 QR) and some labneh (yogurt sauce, 10 QR).

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Kiwi Juice


Fresh kiwi juice at The Coffee Beanery in City Center

Arabian Oud


Arabian Oud is a very nice, expensive perfume that has the scent of the oud wood.


Ancient Tradition
The people of Arabia have embraced fragrant Oud oils for centuries. Trade routes to obtain fragrant goods were established throughout Arabia & the Middle East long before 1500 BC.  It was not until the 10th century AD that the first true perfume extract was created, when famous physician philosopher Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna, improved the process of distilling oil from the petals of roses.


The “Incense Route”
Traffic on what was referred to as the “Incense route” – from Arabia to the Indian Ocean, then the markets of the Roman Empire – went on swelling by the 3rd century AD, as demand increased for incenses & fragrances. The people of Arabia created their own perfumes using oud, sandalwood, amber, musk & roses. Popularity of Oud based fragrance grew from here.


Oud - A defining Essence
Oud-based fragrances have long been a major occupation for the notables of Arabia. A renowned Arab Caliph once said “If I were a merchant, I would only trade in Oud perfume, so that if I did not make a profit, I would have profited from its sensational scent”.  Choosing a fragrance truly reflects one’s individuality.


http://www.arabianoud.com/en02/story.asp

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sushi Minto




Sushi Madness (all you can eat) for 109 QR at Sushi Minto

The place used to be a cafe called something along the lines of Mint Cafe so they combined that with sushi for the new name of Sushi Minto.  The sushi was pretty good and it was nice to have all you can eat so all the sushi cravings are gone for a while!

Lunch and Aamal Golden Tower

 Zaatar (dried herbs, mixed together with sesame seeds, dried sumac, and often salt, as well as other spices) bread, cheese and vegetable somosas, spicy potato bun (I didn't know it was spicy when I bought it), and guava juice

Aamal Golden Tower

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Glow American Salon


I went to Glow American Salon for a mani-pedi (115 QR, about $30 USD).  It took me a while but I found it behind the HSBC on Salwa Road near Decoration R/A.  The area is under construction and the roads aren't paved yet here so it is off a dirt road.  They have OPI nail polish and it was great!

Quail Eggs

Quail Eggs at Family Food Centre

Friday, September 24, 2010

Education City, Islamic Museum of Art, and good food


I met a friend who is a student at Education City.



LAS Building

The LAS building is where Georgetown University was but now they are moving to their new building.




We drove to the other side of Doha to the Islamic Museum of Art.


Islamic Museum of Art


Some of my favorites:


 



Inside the museum


There was a pearl exhibit from January 30 to June 5, 2010.  It was amazing and would be a great permanent addition.


View of the financial district in West Bay



My friend found us a traditional restaurant, Al Murjan Restaurant (مطعم مرجان) [close by Al migrab Roundabout ( دوار المغراب) near Al-muthaff Street)], to eat dinner in.  There were no menus so we ordered the specials.


The amazingly delicious dinner we had contained:
 - Two fried fishes (cooked with Arabian spices and Olive oil)
 - Egyptian rice
 - A plate of shrimp fried in corn oil and seasoned with Levant's sea food seasonings
 - Gergeer salad
 - Pate bread
 - Hummus with garlic
 - water


The food was incredible and we ate in the traditional style with our hands.  Soooo good!


Al Murjan Restaurant (مطعم مرجان)

Then we drove around the corniche and had karuk (كرك), chai tea, at a cafe on the corniche in West Bay.