Fri 3rd Nov '06 - The Journey Over (or a Really Long Day!)

Well, it took an exceptionally LONG time to get to Qatar – and with surprisingly little time actually spent in airports, but I, along with far too many ‘regular’ faces, have now settled into our accommodation and have found the right dupe who already has a Drinking Lisecne & supplied us with numerous slabs of VB (yuck) & Hienekin (almost yuck) & hence why I am now writing this at the end of my 1st day in Qatar.

It all began way, way, way back in Melb. A group of 5 (Kev, Bernie, Julia, Paul (who we befriended) & myself) checked our bags all the way to Doha and off we went. Having only commenced overseas travel about 2 years ago & having been screwed over by baggage people before, I was VERY concerned about checking my 1 and only bag in Melb all the way thru to Qatar when we were flying domestic to Sydney, then International from Syd to Singapore, Sing to Bahrain, Ba to Doha (Qatar).

It all started with beer (and pretty much ended with) at the Int Terminal in Syd. We bought our third round and were then notified that our flight was Boarding and dew to leave ASAP – skulling commenced of 4 x stubbies + left overs from previous round. It only got better (!) from there! When trsavelling Inter before, I have always left in the wee AM hours and been aligned to being awake whilst making the 1st leg – we flew out of Syd at 2000 and ALL others on the plane went to sleep within 4hrs, except the 4 + 1 people cruising our way to Doha! ‘Dong’ went the call the button and begrudingly, the stewardesses continued to bring us our beverage of choice (despite constant warnings about the regular intake of water!) all the way to Singapore!

I made an immediate friend upon boarding our flight – a delightful Gulf Air, blond Russian stewardess. The excitement of heading off (+ the beers in the terminal) led me to walk 8 rows past where I was to be seated. Ms Russia asked me what was wrong as I paused in the row and commenced to block the aisle as I contemplated how I was to get to the right row. I replied that I had missed my row to which I got (with thick accent), “Nobody misses their row!” It took a couple of minutes and her repeating her newest catchphrase a couple more times before I managed to leapfrog back to row 21.

Bernie, Julia, Kev & myself were highly entertaining (or so we believe) on the 1st leg to Singapore. In flight movies, which weren’t on demand but on a loop, were pretty crap although once again, Will Farrell has provided me with great, slightly pissy entertainment, this time in the form of Ricky Bobby the Nascar driver. Last Inter flight it was The Anchorman. Anyhoo, I digress. Kev would politely come up to our row and deposit his & Bernies empties, we ensured that the hostesses provided them with colouring in books – which Bernie & Kev completed exceptionally well, despite not having a yellow crayon and Kev’s beautiful abstract idea of having fish swim in lava, not water!

There was one point where we placed another round of 2 vodkas, a Hienekin & a bourbon and Ms Russia asks “And some water?” to which she got a resounding “No” from all four of us. She urged again and we gave in. She provided the water first and we all looked at each other and to the call of “Skull” the water was gone and we put our hands out eagerly for more stronger liquid refreshment.

Singapore was only brief – bout 45 mins which was enough time to actually get a little lost and have to personally oaged to lesae join my aircraft. Good thing was that Julia was with me and there was one other late passenger who we literally ran to beat onto the plane so that any delayed departure wasn’t pinable on us! The next leg was pretty much short bursts of napping (the first one being bout 2hrs and was more like a coma) and being on our best (or at least better) behaviour.

Arriving in Qatar we were met by Jamie bobbing up & down, complete with fluro vest & cowboy hat – we had put money on the propeller hat. The Accomm is just crazy and literally JUST finished – with some small things not so finished! A kitchen cupboard door came off in my hands. We can’t turn on the DS bathroom light anymore (we haven’t figured if it it’s in combination with the kettle etc) or it blows. Just little things that make each moment even more exciting! It has, what can only be described as marble tiling through out with the best, out of place furniture – basically looks like the range Crazy Clints would stock if they did their own furniture! We’ve got a huge kitchen (doubling as a laundry) and living area. The dining table looks like it belongs in a Banquet Hall. We had to unpack all the brand new crockery & cutlery – we don’t have mugs for tea etc. we have itsy bitsy tiny weeny ‘high tea’ cups!

I’m living with Kev & Paul & we have 2 x bedrooms left to fill & I’m hoping that Adam will take up one upon his arrival tomorrow. Kev got the master suite – which doesn’t really mean much except for the size of the bed as we all have a desk (and no chair), uber wardrobe and bedside table type thing. I did manage to find a spare TV in a weird little anti-room – my theory of fully exploring ANY new hotel, motel, hostel paid off once again. Because the lounge had a TV with required digital cable box (380+ chanels – bout 10 in English!) I claimed the TV as my own and now have my PS2 hooked up and ready to go. Having unpacked, I feel as though I should have brought more clothes just to justify the sheer size of my wardrobe!

As mentioned above, we then went shopping, came back, settled in and then proceeded to have an impromptu street party and got to know most of our neighbours by offering them beer as they came past. This gesture was very well received as some of them hadn’t had booze for a few days! This was then capped off by exploring the gym (which has all the equip still wrapped in plastic!) & a night swim in the pool. Regular names you’re now likely to hear involved in adventures – Scott, Dean, Mark, Jess & Sarah with more to come I’m sure. We’ve already labeled ourselves the In Crowd and as it was stated “We may not be the In Crowd but we’re the only crowd you’ve got!”