Snapshots from the last days in Doha (over the course of 3 years’ stay):
Qatar 2016
Qatar 2015
Having even fewer things to do after getting used to the life in Qatar, there is nothing much other than expanding my cooking universe, which has become delectable enough for self-serving purpose, but still lousy to be presented for others. Some of non-cooking photos below:
Jordan 2014
20140515 – 20140521
Amman -Jerash – Wadi Musa/Petra – Adaba & Dead Sea
1 Jordan Dinar (JD) = approx. 0.7 USD
Lack of sleep and a cross-boarder call from a senior colleague who berated my poor handover, had sapped my enthusiasm for the travel at the outset.
Landscapes and hustles and bustles in an untravelled area is always worthy of witnessing, but the exhausted body was more fond of reaching the place to crush and sleep in Day1. Thanks to the well tendered nature of Jordanian, scammers are rare to be encountered, but frequent bystanders who are willing to help, but have no clue, have more exhausted me though.
As (East) Asian is nowhere to be seen, I also got used to be thrown the phrase of “Ni Hao”, or occasionally “Konnichiwa”.
Jerash:
City located north from Amman, and accessible by approx. 30 minutes car-ride (1-3 JD). Famous for the archeological site from Roman era.
Entrance Fee: 8JD (which I thought a bit too pricey)
It was impressive enough just to walk through remains, but it would have been certainly more memorable and educational had I retained what I crammed into my head for university Entrance exam back in 6 years ago.
Petra:
Bus ride from Amman to Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses): 7 JD/one way.
Treasury – High Place of Sacrifice – Royal Tombs – Monastory
Entrance 1 day: 50 JD, 2 days: 55JD, 3 days: 60JD
1 day should suffice, but 2 days would allow more leeway in schedule.
Petra at Night: 12 JD, is to be better experienced than captured, especially for those who don’t have a posh camera. The night view was categorically stunning.
Dead Sea:
Amman – Madaba – Dead Sea (Amman Beach) – Amman: 20 JD.
2 hours is good for floating on Dead Sea. Again, it’s better to be felt on firsthand than captured in pictures.
Places visited:
Roman Theater
Rainbow street (where all well-offs and ang mo’s flock to)
Temporary souk (Souk JARA)
Sydney Hotel (Amman)
Sabaa Hotel (Wadi Musa)
Amman Citadel (whose sunset view is quite nice
Clueless in Doha 2013
The visual chronicle of a blunt life of a greenhorn who was transported to the city of ostentation with inchoate infrastructures, and still …being clueless.
May 2013
[5月初診]
ドーハでの生活も早一ヶ月。
某ヨットスクールばりのブートキャンプ式療法を用い、愚
刺激が多い日々ですが、一ヶ月にして若干の疲労感は否め
[Notes in June]
Having successfully, but not intentionally, failed to meet up with the expectations placed on me in terms of work performances, the workloads and mental pressure that had seemed ginormous in the last month, somehow seem manageable for now. The change has been so drastic that I am not sure whether I should celebrate or get disappointed.
Anyhow, the last 2 months has been long enough to transform the premonition I had: “I might not be able to flourish in the corporate world”, into a crystal-clear conviction. However, I wouldn’t let this realization hold me back, and at least I will try to minimize my helplessness so as not to affect work of others.
As for the private life, I have no life and I suppose this is how it should be for a clueless newbie who gets undeserved salary and fringe benefits, and contributes none: literally unblemished zero, to the increase of shareholder value of the company.
15 June 2013
[6月経過観察]
ADHDに関しては完治。寧ろ逆に振れて無気力具合が甚
僭越甚だしく綴りましたが、ほんとに大変な人から見たら
[Notes in July]
Contrary to my preference of being secluded from any off-the-job socialization, I have been obliged to attend with frequent outings or team building sessions with colleagues. Given the choice, I would probably somewhat distance myself from mingling with coworkers during non-office hours, but it has been pretty pleasant to have been around with the folks (of close age) from Japan. Self-imposed isolation seems to have been long enough for me to drop my pretense of being a social misfit. After all, I cherish being with people.
What I despise; however, when it comes to close interaction with people is that my flaws (too romanticized to call them as “foibles”) become plainly obvious and more accentuated in light of others.
This nagging disinclination of juxtaposing shabby myself next to the charms and graces of others, has been always around and prevented me from hopping onto social interplays that would have brought more serendipities otherwise.
All in all, this is the month I have come to recall the joy of getting in touch with people, and I dare to embrace all the troubles accompanying with it (at least for now).
28 July 2013
[7月経過観察]
人を避けがちなのは自分の欠点やしょーもなさが、人と接
タクシー券入れられた日にゃー、行くしかない。航空券代払っても、寧ろこのタクシー券を無駄に出来ないという貧乏性を見事に逆手にとられる。策士に乾杯。
Pictures on National Day (18-Dec)
Emir Succession in Qatar
Emir succession announced on 25 June 2013. National Holiday ensued. Youngest Emir ever among GCC countries at the age of 33.
君主交代で国民の祝日が急遽制定。新聞は祝辞のオンパレードだが、文言が一字一句違いなく同じなのは何だか味気ない。政府指定の雛型がある模様。
