Let The Good Times Roll

This was the weekend of the now Internationally-known Copacabana Party. Miss Evie (aka Yoyo, my hood ornament, or the asian girl with the huge glasses in these photos) is skipping town and moving to Dubai in a week or so; leaving Doha minus a town drunk.

After assembling an emergency BBQ pit, I got to grillin' and everyone else got to drinkin' around 12:30 p.m. Several kilos of charred animal flesh and liters of fermented/distilled/concocted beverages later, we were full, buzzed and happy.

All this despite the fact that the maintenance crew neglected to tell us that the pool was undergoing repairs and would not have any water in it. Oh well, when life hands you lemons, ask that they be sliced so you can use them in your cocktail. :)

Brunch at the Old Souk

I throw the word like I've been around here forever, but I had never heard of it before my friend Danna (who had been in Qatar previously) told me what it was.

The word is "Souk," and it basically means a marketplace.

What do they sell? Anything you want. There's the pearl souk, spice souk, mobile phone souk, gold souk, clothing souk....etc. And most of these are located in what's called the "Old Souk" or "Souk Waqif."

So, anyway, here's some photos I took while at brunch on Saturday. They're not the best as I didn't really set them up, I just shot them. (Sorry, I just didn't want to look like a tourist...I live here for Pete's sake!)

Her Name is Pearl

So everyone has been asking for pictures of my new ride and I hadn't really had a chance to take any. I took a few when I was car shopping but they were just so I could remember what I looked at after looking at a dozen different vehicles. Plus she's been a very dirty girl lately and I couldn't photograph her in that state.

I had every intention of grabbing some at the beach but since we spent most of the time trying to find the friggin beach, I didn't get much time. But here's a shot of her (sans Asians laying on the hood/sticking out of the sunroof).

Her name is Miss Pearl as she has a pearl-like paint job - kinda changes from silver to pink to purple. BMW calls it Diamond Metallic but I don't think it looks like a diamond at all. She's a big girl, a 7-series stretch so she's got lots-o-legroom and she's like driving a cloud (albeit a very well appointed cloud) on rails - I now know what all the fuss is about driving a Bimmer.

Beach Trip That Almost Wasn't

So, this weekend a beach trip was planned. While it took us a few attempts to make it out of Doha, we finally departed. It was about a 40 km trip north to Al Khor where I understood from my crew that there was a gorgeous beach that stretched for miles and miles. (pardon the mix of English and Metric.)

Well, the beach never materialized (at least not one to our strict standards) but hilarity did ensue and we had a great time regardless. My friends Laz eventually commandeered the girls' car and we headed back to Doha to the Intercon for at least a few hours of fun on a beach. Luckily they had buckets of Heineken (at 8 bucks a beer...yikes!!!) so we chilled in the pool after a rousing game of extreme foozball.

A Few More Random Doha Shots

Tiesto in Doha

So last weekend, I had my first taste of what it's like to see quite possibly the world's most well known DJ in a foreign country. I've been to events in the U.S. but they pale in comparison to the sheer energy I witnessed (and had a hand in contributing to) here in Doha. It was electric and probably the most fun event I've ever been to.

I went with a new group of friends - pregamed at their place and then headed over to the Intercontinental Hotel close to where I live and joined the crowd of I don't know how many. It was on the beach (a beach party, indeed). Across the bay was the beautiful Doha skyline and in the sky an awesome full moon. I proceeded to drink and dance my ass off.

Great friends, a great performance and some really dirty feet. The night will forever be etched in my memory.

Beautiful Doha Night Skyline

The Worst Intersection in Doha

I can't help but giggle every time I watch this. Everything is a walking contradiction. There's lines on the road but nobody stays in them. There's speed limits but nobody follows them (except where there's cameras). You just have to laugh.