Neglected

Opening Ceremony, Asian Football Cup, Qatar ©Sue Pownall 2011

Poor neglected blog, left alone while my art blog gets all the time and attention. Sorry, but in order to reach this year's goals that is how it has to be. However, a quick catch up on what has been happening. 

©Sue Pownall 2011

Where to start? January I guess.

First up were two trips the Asian Cup football as a colleague had spare tickets. Despite the madness of the badly organised entrance procedures, we were seated in time for the opening ceremony. It was impressive, see photos above and left, which is more than can be said about the opening match between Qatar and Uzbekistan. A few days later, we went to see Australia play the Korean Republic, which was more interesting, but I enjoyed watching the crowds more than the match.

Vamos! ©Sue Pownall 2011

Later in the month, there was another visit to the tennis. First off was the ATP quarter finals and I watched Nadal, who was fantastic, as always. Next up was Federer who walked all over his opponent. Then I went to Nadal's double match on court 1 - like an outer court at Wimbledon. I sat in the front row, so close you could almost touch him, and could really see his awesome tennis skills that make him the World's No. 1. By 9pm the temperature had dropped to 19c and us softies used to the winter warmth then shivered until 11.15 as the doubles was played and the temp dropped a couple more degrees. Nadal's partner Marc Lopez and his opponents, Gabashvili and Schreiber, all played well, but Nadal OUTSTANDING! 

Closing ceremony of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final 2011©Sue Pownall 2011

Then, on the Saturday afternoon, I was sat at home and a colleague knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to got to the final as he couldn't use his ticket... Did I want to go???? Hell yes. Mad panic to change, grab handbag and then a taxi. I arrived just moments after the stands opened and secured myself a great seat second row back from the railing in the upper tier. Unfortunately, Nadal had been knocked out in the semis the day before, so the final was Federal V Davydenko. They both played well, although Federer dominated the first set, but in the second set his play went up a notch and he was absolutely awesome to watch, and consequently won. Afterwards there was a terrific closing ceremony, lasers, music, the works, very different from the opening for the footie, which was masses of fireworks.

The city from the golf course

Beginning of February saw more sport as  I went to the Qatar Masters golf tournament. I am not really interested in golf, but it was a good opportunity to get outside and see some greenery; perfect weather around 25c. A friend got me into the Al Jazeera hospitality suite where we had a terrific lunch before a short wander around until we found the beer tent. It's a hard life at times!

The month finished with a day trip to a Qatari farm, which is very different from farm life in Europe. It was more like a small holding without a veggie patch; just a heifer and her calf, a herd of goats, some chickens & pigeons, but nothing growing apart from a few bushes and trees. I think the photo speaks for itself. btw the electric pylons are because Qatar survives due to its oil and gas.

Qatari farm with desert scenery behind.©Sue Pownall 2011

On a side note, my friend B was caught up in the dreadful events in Libya and it was very worrying not knowing if she was all right or not, luckily she got out via Egypt. Her first-hand account is written on A Million Miles from Pigeon Street.

At the Pearl  ©Sue Pownall 2011

Beginning of March, I went to a talk by the contemporary Beiruti, Lamia Joreige, who produces interesting installations using a lot of film, objects and social history in the form of recorded memories and photos. Whilst a week later, I attended a gathering for International Women's Day, which was held at the Pearl, and we were in the paper the next day. 

Storm over Raouche ©Sue Pownall 2011

Waiting to cross in the rain

Mid-March, two friends and I  ran away to Beirut for a couple of nights. It was cold and rained, hard, but so good to be in a free society. I really don't notice the limitations here in Doha much, but you can really see, sense, and feel the freedom of Lebanon- despite all its problems. We went out for some lovely meals, visited pubs and clubs, getting to see a fabulous live band, and even managed to do some sightseeing too. Maybe I should live there next? Didn't I say that after my visit in August '09?

After returning, the following evening, I went to a talk by the TED award speaker, Professor Karen Armstrong. The talk was very interesting on her interpretation of the interconnections between the religions, but she did over emphasise, at least for me, her TED prize wish of a Charter for Compassion. Still, I think I will buy her latest book.

Finally, like many people, I have been sick this month, but last weekend I got out and finally walked the 5.1k along Doha's Corniche. It was important to do it soon as the temperature has started to rise already and the summer heat will soon be upon us. I was not alone in enjoying the day there as families, friends, young and old, were all seen out enjoying themselves.

Think ©Sue Pownall 2011

Weekend wanderlust in Beirut.

Too funny... my new cyberbuddy Lisa of Travel Dreams & Moonbeams interviewed me about my recent trip to Beirut. I was very flattered to be asked about my latest little trip and you can read the resulting article here with the the fabulous title of Adventure and intrigue await wanderlust women in Beirut. The title is so good it's taken me ages to think of a title for this small blog today.

Good, bad, and slightly dangerous?

I have just spent a long weekend in Lebanon, and it was not long enough. It is an intriguing country full of contradictions. Beirut is an amazing, vibrant city. There are masses of construction going on, but around the corner you will find a building covered in bullet holes or shell marks. The beautiful Al-Amin Mosque (right, from St Georges Orthodox Cathedral) commissioned by former PM Hariri stands only a few kilometres from the former Holiday Inn still baring its ugly war damage from 2006. Furthermore, it stands next to the Cathedral of St Georges Beyruth, Christian & Muslim together. All the Lebanese I met from taxi-drivers to Hezbollah followers seemed genuinely nice people. I know some of you query the latter group. I do not agree with their politics, but I had the opportunity to go to an Hezbollah exhibition in Baalbek. There, the men were friendly, wanted to inform about their perspective, but did not try to force anything on me - oh apart from a nasty tourist hat and flag as gifts. People apart, the contradictions continued with the beautiful countryside ruined by the litter along the sides of the roads. I felt safe whilst there, but was nervous by the checkpoints along the roads manned by soldiers with guns, and some tanks in places. Although, no-one was stopped it was a little worrying. Furthermore, you can see vast wealth and great poverty as you drive around pass summer resorts for the rich Beirutis or pass the Syrian Bedu tents of the migrant workers.

I had a very full weekend, which started off with a walk around Hamra district full of shops and bars, pretty much like any other city of the world. That evening a Lebanese friend C took me to an exclusive rooftop club, where there are tables which cost 3000US$ a night, needless to say we sat at the bar. It was my first time on a guest-list to get in anywhere. As the club has been booked up for the summer we were the guests of the youngest female judge in Beirut who used her influence to get us on the list. The next morning I went to the centre of town, Solidere, for a wander around and was amazed at the number of mosques and churches side-by-side. I tried some of the famous Lebanese food, in the form of a huge slice of cheesecake. YUMM. In the afternoon, I joined C & her friends as we went south of Beirut to a beach resort, Bamboo Bay. All very decadent as we had our own hut, complete with jacuzzi, near the pool and overlooking the sea. The birthday cake, which was topped with fresh Lebanese fruit, was to die for.

The next day I joined a tour to the Bekaa Valley. The first stop was Chateau Ksara for a tour of their caves and then a wine tasting - at 10am!!! Now I like a glass of wine but it was a bit early and so had to pass up the red as being too heavy. I did try the chardonnay & rose first. From there we drove through the valley to Baalbek. WOW!!!! I have seen a lot of ruins over the years but these are impressive! (Left, the entrance) There are not enough superlatives to describe it - you'll just have to go. I am a bit concerned about my mum who was in Lebanon in the early 60s and wrote this in an email last week "I went but don't really remember it apart from a couple of pillars". Oh dear, maybe I should take her back.

From Baalbek it was off to Zahle, for a riverside lunch. Riverside was not the term I would have used as it was more like a very narrow canal/concrete chanel a metre wide with fast flowing water. The sound of the water was nice though. Now, Lebanese food is famous, but I thought being on a tour it would be a mediocre affair. How wrong I was! The mezze to start had the usual hummus, mixed salads, bread, etc., but the quality and freshness was outstanding and I could barely eat another mouthful. Being an almost veggie, I passed on the barbecued meat, but was told it was delicious. Desert was Lebanese fruit and was so nice I forced myself to eat a great quantity of watermelon & melon. Rolling back on the bus it was off to the last stop and Aanjar, an ancient Umayyad site. It was also impressive, but it would have been more so if I'd seen it before Baalbek. It was a bit like going to Brussels after visiting Paris.

Sunday morning, I woke very sad to be leaving, and wished I had more time to explore both Beirut and Lebanon more. I have put them on my To-go-back-to list, very near the top, after all there is so much more to see and do. Hugs & thanks to C for inviting to her country.
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