Just past midway of my first Ramadan and despite all the initial trepidation it really hasn't been too bad. Apart from altered opening times for facilities such as shops and gyms (typically 13:00 - 24:00), restricted access to alcohol (which is probably no bad thing) and the half-hour crazy driving antics of the devout trying to get back for sunset prayers around 18:30, the whole thing has been not too arduous. Imagine it as an extended version of the UK Christmas/New Year holiday, that lasts for a month, and it will give you some idea of what's happening.
For me there have actually been more benefits than costs being here during Ramadan. Firstly, my working hours, on direct orders from the Qatari government, have been reduced to 08:30 till 13:30. So for four weeks it will be like working part-time; which will take some getting used to when it's all over. Secondly, we were invited to a Sidra sponsored Ramadan meal called Gabga which took place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and was very brilliant; mountains of Arabic food, live music and a fantastic 'Whirling Dervish' dance troupe. And finally the crazy Doha traffic is nowhere near as manic, obviously helped by thousands of people flying off to avoid the extreme heat, but any reduction in the general levels of lunacy is to be welcomed.
All of which will seem a distant dream when we get back from Australia at the end of August. But at least it will have been cushioned by being out of the country for three weeks. The one thing that will endure is the C40+ heat which still has a few months to go and will be welcomed after, the comparatively, mild C15 of Perth. Even went shopping today for a sensible coat in case we get caught in a down pour or, heaven forbid, we go for an evening stroll. Not sure it will get much use when we come back but it won't take up too much room in one of the walk-in wardrobes!
So after our usual daily Siesta we are off to the gym to continue the beautification process. Which of the four gyms we have access to shall we use today? Doesn't really matter as they are all very good and usually empty. Might even go for a swim in the Olympic sized pool and break-in my new, smaller sized, swimming trunks. I was shamed into buying them after confessing that my old ones were at least fifteen years old!
Onward and upward.
For me there have actually been more benefits than costs being here during Ramadan. Firstly, my working hours, on direct orders from the Qatari government, have been reduced to 08:30 till 13:30. So for four weeks it will be like working part-time; which will take some getting used to when it's all over. Secondly, we were invited to a Sidra sponsored Ramadan meal called Gabga which took place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and was very brilliant; mountains of Arabic food, live music and a fantastic 'Whirling Dervish' dance troupe. And finally the crazy Doha traffic is nowhere near as manic, obviously helped by thousands of people flying off to avoid the extreme heat, but any reduction in the general levels of lunacy is to be welcomed.
All of which will seem a distant dream when we get back from Australia at the end of August. But at least it will have been cushioned by being out of the country for three weeks. The one thing that will endure is the C40+ heat which still has a few months to go and will be welcomed after, the comparatively, mild C15 of Perth. Even went shopping today for a sensible coat in case we get caught in a down pour or, heaven forbid, we go for an evening stroll. Not sure it will get much use when we come back but it won't take up too much room in one of the walk-in wardrobes!
So after our usual daily Siesta we are off to the gym to continue the beautification process. Which of the four gyms we have access to shall we use today? Doesn't really matter as they are all very good and usually empty. Might even go for a swim in the Olympic sized pool and break-in my new, smaller sized, swimming trunks. I was shamed into buying them after confessing that my old ones were at least fifteen years old!
Onward and upward.
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