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I now write about my adventures and post photographs

along with my drawings & paintings on the blog:

ART OF THE NOMAD 

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Recent posts are from Cuba and Qatar.

Another year over - farewell 2010.

Falcon © Sue Pownall

Wow I'm not sure about the last month, but I'm looking forward to the new one in this new year of 2011. December started on a high, but seemed to have finished in a whimper. Whilst I like Doha I am finding it's a place where I am perpetually tired and feeling not 100%. Furthermore, I spend too much time in can't-be-bothered mode, even little things like going out for milk is too much. My only motivating force is my art, but sometimes even getting off the sofa to pick up a sketchbook doesn't happen either. 

Jude & Lola on Shatti beach at sunset, Oman © Sue Pownall

Anyway, I started the month with a visit to Muscat, Oman for the exhibition I mentioned in my last post. I stayed with some old friends and their children, who I have missed a lot in the last year, so it was good to catch up. I also got to meet a few of my other friends too, although not as many as I would have liked nor for as long. The exhibition event was a success for the organisers and is important for me as being my first show. I hope there are more to come.

Al Shaqab Stud horseman © Sue Pownall

Celebrating National Day

The 18th December was National Day here in Qatar and marked the end of a week of celebrations. On Friday 17th I got to see camel dressage as the riders took them through a course, falcons, selouki dog races, and beautiful Arabian horses. Then the next day, I joined the masses in the streets where the city had a buzz, a vibrancy, that was contagious. I walked along the Corniche where the military parade had taken place ( I missed the soldiers on camels unfortunately), amongst people of all nationalities dressed in the Qatari burgundy and white and/or waving flags. In the streets people had hung flags on their cars, added transfers and decorated them, then were driving around tooting and waving at people. Benign nationalism like this is fabulous.

How do they see to drive?

Two other notable events of the month were my friend's 30th birthday, celebrated on the 23rd, although her birthday is Christmas eve, at a restaurant on the Pearl - Qatar's artificial island. This was a lovely evening where my friend got thoroughly and deservedly spoilt which included waiters singing Happy Birthday to her when the cake was brought out. Finally, I spent Christmas Day with colleagues for lunch and silly games next door, followed by drinks with others colleagues further down the hall. Fortunately, Christmas Day fell on a weekend, but it was back to work again on Boxing Day.

By the waterside at the Pearl, Doha.

Happy 2011, may it bring you peace & happiness.

Camping Qatari style

Jump. ©Sue Pownall

Last Friday, at the end of the Eid break, I joined expats and Qataris on a escape from the city. Through meeting a Qatari guy working at the Magnum photography exhibition, a camping trip in the southern part of the country was organised, by an inland sea, Khor al-Udeid. Unfortunately, for me, due to normal delays/ miscommunication /hanging around we arrived at our camp dune at sunset. I would have preferred to arrive an hour or so earlier, but such is life. A couple decided to jump from our chosen camp spot down the dune, which looked good fun, but I preferred to just take photos sitting part way down.

A busy roadway across the dunes.

Due to it being Eid (like Christmas or Easter) and a Friday (European Sunday), with perfect weather (under 30c) the desert was not the quiet haven that I expected, but a mass of 4x4s and quad bikes dune bashing, as well as lights and noise from numerous camps.

Home from home.

In true Qatari style, we had a generator ugh for lights and a flat screen tv in case of boredom. I must admit it was funny watching others try and play volleyball just out of the glare of the lights, however I don't think any expats took advantage of the tv. Thankfully the generator was turned off around 1am. Ah peace.

Night volleyball.

However, by 5.15 it was light again as dawn broke across the sea. btw the land opposite is Saudi Arabia and we saw border patrols driving up and down their coast most of the night.

Dawn through my tent flaps.

We broke camp fairly early and took a circuitous route back across some huge dunes. Shortly before reaching the paved road we passed a huge herd of camels (is that the collective noun???). This is what the camel drover wears every day, he didn't dress like this for tourists!

Qatari man & his camel. ©Sue Pownall

A new start: Doha

Sunset downtown Doha.

Three weeks ago I arrived in Qatar, so here is my overdue post on life so far. The delay has been due to tiredness. I get up for work at 5.15am to be collected at 6 and return around 3pm. After a late lunch and maybe a nap, by 5.30pm it is then dark. It is still a bit hot and currently dusty to wander about in the evenings, so it's easier to turn on the tv and computer and relax. I'm not the only one who is tired, my trainees frequently sleep in class as you can see in the picture.

Hopefully not because of the lesson.

Over these last few weeks, I have had one class of 8 students, nice lads except one, Mohammed who is disruptive and I'm sure is only there to spend time with his friends. They are low level trainees aged between 20-28 waiting to get into Qatar Petroleum once they pass the training. On Sunday I am going to work in a new site, with actual employees, so hopefully they will be more motivated. My colleagues all seem nice and I have spent a few evenings with some of them, although due to the schedule going out on a work night rarely happens.

My apartment building in evening light.

There are about 28 of us working in different sites and nearly all of us live in the same apartment block. The apartment is one bedroom with a reasonable lounge. There is free internet, which is both a blessing and a curse, also a basic tv satellite package. I’m on top floor to the left without a balcony. The left seems the best side to be on as there is construction all around, but is muffled most of the time by the adjacent building. It is in a good area with a supermarket 2 minutes away, also a small mall with a cinema. La Cigali Hotel is a block away and the Ramada Hotel 2 or 3 (a 5 minute drive), whilst near the Ramada are lots of restaurants..

Nearest supermarket.

I have been very, very tired what with new job, new climate, and silly time to get up, but have been out a couple of times. On the first Thursday and again last night, I went down the corridor and joined some colleagues for a chilli, which was nice. On the 27th, I was picked up by Susi, who I know through an online social networking group, and with a friend of hers we went to the Qatar Professional Women’s Network for their monthly event. I met some lovely women and look forward to meeting them again. There was a woman in abaya & scarf alone, so I thought it was my chance to meet a Qatari woman – she’s from northern England, works here and was very interesting to talk to. Can you spot me in the picture below? After the event, the 3 of us drove to an Egyptian restaurant to meet with the social group we belong to. Again, a great group, I think there were about 35 of us there, and we had a huge feast of mezzeh: fresh bread, hummous, falafel etc. We left before 10, so it wasn’t too difficult to get up the next morning. Having said it's rare to go out on a work night, I did again the following night.

A face in the crowd. QPWN September event at Bistro 61.

You cannot go in bars here without your original of your passport or a resident’s card. My passport is currently with my company as they process my residency etc., however, I was fortunate enough to get it back for the 28th. Then, clutching it tightly, I found a taxi and went to the Ramada. I could have walked quicker as the traffic was appalling. Once there I met with the Canadians in Qatar group, I’d got an invite through the internet even though I'm not Canadian, and again met some more lovely people. I was also invited to attend next month’s meeting. Ironically, on their facebook page, there are only 6 photos of the group, of which I'm in one.

Being a tourist.

I thought I ought to do some sightseeing, so last weekend, about 8.30 on a hazy, dusty Friday morning, I caught a taxi down to Doha's Corniche. I was dropped near the fishing wharf as it has a magnificent collection of dhows moored along it. I got the obligatory tourist photo above and soon discovered that not only was it hazy, spoiling photos, but the humidity was very high. [The Weather Channel stated humidity between 58-80% with temperatures 32c at 8am] I walked around the wharf and then crossed the road to Souq Waqif, searching for an open coffee shop and the chance to get into air conditioning. Although most of the souq (market) was closed as it was Friday morning, I did find the Corner Café open. Inside over a cup of tea and a large bottle of water I rehydrated, cooled down, and sketched the counter.  The souq has been reconstruction with lots of restaurants, coffee shops, and of course a market.  Later that night, I went back to the souq with a colleague M, his boyfriend T, and 2 of T’s colleagues/friends.  We sat outside, which was cool enough with the fans blowing, watching the world go by, and eating good Lebanese food.

Souq Waqif.

There are lots of things planned for the month ahead, such as more networking events, a dhow trip, and a WTA tennis tournament. What a busy place Doha seems to be.

Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Last year, I posted pink photos on this blog in order to help raise awareness for breast cancer. You can revisit 2009's post here.  A year later I am doing it again and as I am now in Qatar, I am linking to their societies: Think Pink Qatar and Qatar National Cancer Society. 

The photos were taken in Sudan this year and are copyright © Sue Pownall / travelingsuep. Please email me if you want to use any images.

 Remember we need to raise awareness of breast cancer to protect girls like these.

What will you do this October to support Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Post your pink photos? Join a Walk for Life? Make a donation? Whatever you do, every little helps!!!

A summer of hat tricks.

Detail of Colchester Castle.

This summer has been notable for it's hat tricks, the best being 3 reunions with long-lost friends. The first one I posted about here, which is where I met friends I'd gone to PCAD with. The next occurred when I went to see the Tempest at Cressing Temple Barns, and I was very happy to run into a friend I'd lost contact with. Paula & I went to school and then art college together. Over the years, despite us both moving around, we had infrequently ran into each other until around 15 years ago, when our paths stopped crossing. It is fabulous being back in contact and we've already been for a drink, had an afternoon sketching, and talked and talked and talked. Finally, today I met another school friend today who I have been in contact with, but have not physically met for about 5 years. The couple of hours over coffee flew past far too quickly and I was very sad to wave her goodbye just now. However, we talked about a revisit to Barcelona, where we went for a weekend way-back-when, next summer, which would be fabulous to do. Furthermore, if nothing else we will have a glass of wine, or two, next time I'm home.

Reunited and having a sketchday.

3 Sketch days - First, mid-August I met the talented artists Anita Davies and Joan Sandford-Cook (Anita's work is here and Joan's here) at the Five Miles Inn, in the Fens.
Beginning of September Sandra of Sandraws came up to Colchester for the day and we spent the time drinking tea, chatting, and doing a lot of sketching. The Colchester Castle pic at the top of the post was done then.
Finally, last week Paula & I spent the afternoon sketching around the Cressing Temple Barns site where her husband is the park ranger there (no sign of Yogi or Boo Boo though).
You can see the results and read about them on my other blog artofanomad.

3 Drawing classes - The drop-in life classes held in Prested Hall, Dr Sketchy's anti-artschool life drawing, and a watercolour workshop. Pictures and details also on artofanomad.

Now the biggest is I am about to start the third contract of the year in the third country this year. I am off to Qatar on Friday. inshallah

As you can see from the locator map, Qatar is back in the Middle East. It was the sensible decision as my flat and credit cards both need sorting out, but it is very difficult as my heart and soul want to be in Khartoum. Hopefully, in a year or so I can return there.

In some ways, I almost feel I could return to England to live too, I think this is due to reuniting with like-minded friends and also making new friends here. Also, because of the opportunities for art and culture but, it is soooo cold. Food for thought over the next year, I feel.

Three, two, one... Finally, this summer I've been to London 3 times, (not enough), twice to the theatre (also not enough), and one trip to Italy.