Football

These men are at a Coffee Shop watching the World Cup on television screens set up under the porch. Something less than 300 Million people in America call this soccer. The other Billions of people in the world call it football and they are all glued to the tube right now.

This picture was taken in the Souq at dusk on Friday evening. Everybody goes out on Friday evening. Look behind Yebisu for another picture.

Dhow Harbor

One of my favorite things to do in Doha is to walk along the Corniche - a seawall, walk, and road that follows the bay. There is usually a breeze, and for Doha, lots of people out walking. It's the place to be...

Kitchens

Differences. There are a lot of differences in Qatar and Japan. Many are obvious, some more subtle. The way that people live is at least as different as the land itself. Here are two kitchens. The first is the kitchen of my apartment in Japan. It is sleek, ultra-modern, compact, and efficient. The second one is the kitchen in my villa in Qatar. It is very spacious, modern, and a kind of traditional style.

For me, they represent someting about the country they come from. The United States is somewhere in between the two in the way I think about it. I know you can find examples similar to both of the above in just about any country. But look at them and you will get a feeling for one aspect of these cultures.

Can you guess which is more "me" :-)

V=7500

Dining Rooms

And now for a test. Which one is in Qatar and which one is in Japan?

City Center

Doha has modern shopping, the largest being City Center. It is nice although parking is a bit limited. In fact, parking is kind of limited everywhere. City Center has three levels of shopping and a ice skating rink on the bottom. There are also a number of traditional souqs.

And aren't we lucky? There is fast food too.

Fast Food

Simaisma

The beauty of Qatar is much different than Japan of course. The desert has its own beauty and the sea here is a radiant blue. I like some of the new buildings quite a bit. Others not so much but that is the same everywhere. And if you look, you will find scenes like this one in Simaisma, a small town on the coast between Doha and Al Khor.

Sashimi in Ras Laffan

The other night we had sashimi in Ras Laffan at the camp canteen. This completes my round the world "sushi trip". In case you are not aware, sashimi is raw fish served without the rice as it is in nigiri (on top of rice) or maki (rolled in rice). This sashimi was from a local fish. Yatsuda-san and I could not figure out what kind it was, but it was pretty good. I have also eaten sushi in a Doha hotels but did not find it to be particularly good. Japanese friends tell me that the "Sakura" restaurant (the only real Japanese restaurant in Doha) is OK though.

Today (Friday) is a day off in Qatar. However, I am at work because I was away from the Construction Site for most of the week and got behind. I am not behind because I was away from the site, but rather because I was away from the computer. I don't have internet at the house in Doha yet so that makes it hard to keep up from there. So last night I drove out here and spent the night in the camp. Tomorrow I will take the day off and try to find something interesting to do...

Sushi in Paris

I am on a round the world sushi tour. Here Hatta-san and I enjoy a nice glass of ginjyo in Paris at a restaurant that was occupied only by nihonjin on the night I was there (with the exception of me of course, and I consider myself honorary nihonjin). The sushi and sashimi was excellent and we also enjoyed tempura. Kanpai!

I actually started this adventure in Yokohama where I was honored to eat in Ikeda-san's home with his wife and son. That was very nice and Ikeda-san also gave me a very nice sake cup. So far, the sushi has been pretty good at all the places I have tried it - but they haven't quite made it to the highest Japanese standards....

I am back in Doha now enjoying the balmy weather. Take care and don't get a heat stroke...

Sushi Uptown

Well, the Astros won last night - beat the Braves. Here is a view of the fireworks show afterwards. Megan, Megan's friend Hy, Teresa and I went. There is another picture behind Yebisu.

The other day we went to a "fusion" sushi bar in Uptown Houston. The sushi was good although a bit Americanized and they had a nice ginjyo that they served at the right temperature.

Summer is the time for fireworks - get out and see some...