Hop Fest 2009@The Irish village,Dubai

Spirits Soaring!

I try never to miss out on beer festivals ;-),specially when in places like The Irish village in Garhoud..

I couldn't go Thursday night..So i head there on Friday,and i was greeted by the longest & most anxious Que i have ever seen[it was extending to the main entrance..!,and then there was the security dragging out some wasted people,some people even had fights,truly beer fest ambiance ;-)..]..So After loitering around a bit & sweating like a pig..i decided to go back home & return back the next day..

So Saturday night it was, At The HOP FEST..and it was a good time..Good live music,Beer from all over the world,Shiny Happy People..

We truly need something like this more often..

3 days in Doha

I was on a short work-related trip to Doha for 3 days..the old city is pretty laid back low-rise area with narrow streets[ a bit like Manama].The new developments are going on particularly in the West Bay area,which boasts some really well designed Sky scrapers[better than SZR].

Finding a taxi is an ass..so i would recommend taking a car on rent,with a GPS to guide u thru[atleast that's what i did]

Obviously it meant that i checked out some places too..

The Villagio is the latest shopping mall in Doha which every1 is talking about it..It has a man-made canal inside,which also has a couple of gondolas thrown in.Also an ice-rink..Over-all a good mall with a unique design,the ceiling has a Real World Sky pattern which has been pretty well emulated..

Getting into a club in Doha..is a huge hassle..they have the strangest Rules ever,which have been newly implemented..
* Only Qatar Residence Visa holders are allowed to enter [what the hell are tourists are supposed to do...no1 was sure..including the hotel staff!]
* Even People having a valid Residence Visa need to have a Special Photo-id for that particular Club..which has a procedure,and a form has to filled up..
* Tourists are allowed to enter ONLY if they are accompanied with a Residence permit holder..All tourists nevertheless have to have their Passport scanned before entry!

Obviously i had to make friends outside to get entry..and i checked out THE QUBE@ Ramada..Nothing great about the club[maybe it was a weekday,and maybe it was the wrong place!] except that it had a huge dance floor.

Song Playing--> Smoke & ashes by Tracy Chapman

Dusty dubai

It is so dusty in dubai..I hope the sandstorm fades off early..
Picture - burj al arab on a dusty sunday afternoon