Category Archives: Activities & Event
For the laugh of football: 100% out 150% in
I have to admit that I don’t play football very well. Don’t talk about dribbling yet. I can only kick the ball out of attacked area 🙂
But not playing well is not a valid reason for missing a morning football session. When I say morning it’s really early morning. Well, just after sun rises. Miss a session and then I’ll miss the main attraction: Indonesian breakfast!
“Playing football is number 27. The number 1priority is the breakfast after”, said one of my friends. Indeed. Then a typical breakfast dish of Indonesia is what we aim for. Name it, we have them covered: nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodle), bubur ayam (chicken porridge), gudeg (young jackfruit soup), pempek (fish cake), or pecel (vegetable stew with peanut sauce). No rules who to provide…all by voluntary.
While playing football may take few calories, the breakfast will surely make it up, even much more. 100% (calories) out, 150% in. LOL. We end up getting fatter :)..though healthier..
With exceptions, most players are in their late 30-s or early 40-s. What’s happening is then the ball goes faster than our run, our laugh is louder than our actions, and friendship can only go bolder.
This two hours of laughing, joking, exercising, and exchanging rumours is why we always want a weekend to come faster. And this also what makes living in Doha more enjoyable..
Doha 23rd International Book Fair
Few shots from a recent visit to Doha 23rd International Book Fair. The fair is held from 12 Dec to 22 Dec 2012 at Doha Exhibition Center. We found that majority of stands are offering Arabic books, not surprising. Only few English book stands (less than 5?) present and they are among hundreds of stands from many participating countries particularly from Middle East.
There are special participation from Embassy of the USA, French Embassy, Japan Foundation. Kinokuya also presents with its cosplay and famous animation figure such as Naruto. Other stands include computer and gadget accessories.
If you’re lucky you can grab a boxy paper trolley for free to help you carry your book shopping. The trolley is distributed intermittently at the information desk.
Apart from stands there are also a stage, and book review room.
Although this is a book fair, I am surprised to see that the book price is not necessarily cheaper.
It may be worth visited and if you are non-Arabic reader don’t expect too much though.
Thanks to the book fair organizer at least for making this fair happen and to Blackberry for the camera 🙂
All Eyes on COP18
The word “COP18” is probably the most spoken or written word in the media during the last few weeks and another two weeks as Qatar is hosting the largest conference it ever hosts. I am trying not to be bothered, but like or not, small or big, it starts affecting my (our) life in Doha, at least for several weeks.
One is additional traffic and overcrowding at popular areas. Luckily I am working in Ras Laffan and living in North Doha, still tough, when there is a need to go to downtown or to city center, additional minutes due to traffic or longer commute is a certainty. During this time, small Doha experiences large influx of visitors to already crowded tourist puller areas: Souq Waqif, MIA, Corniche, Katara, and malls. Probably it’s the best time to venture out of Doha…
Second, the theme is no stranger to me. GHG, Kyoto Protocol, climate change, CDM, carbon footprint, flaring, emissions, CO2, and all sort of things. I was Head of Student Nature Lover Group in the university. I participated in two-week long Nature Conservation Camp. I organized environment seminar.I made countless national park/mountain/outdoor expedition. And I am environmentalist by principle although I am working as a process safety engineer. At work, I got involved in environmental impact assessment for the project and delivered some environmental program. Recently, I am involved in flare purge gas reduction and jetty boil-off gas project. So, I can’t make myself blind and ignorant.
Third, Doha is what I call it home now. What happens to Doha, again, I can’t put myself blind and pretend not to be bothered. At least I should learn to practice the renown Arabian hospitality. Guest is to be served. So, those 17,000 or more visitors are our honored guests. How to serve? Hmm…let me think 🙂
Fourth, here and there I must have met with one of those 17,000 (Doha is small, isn’t it). COP18 may be the chance to see a mini UN somehow.Didn’t I mention that Ban Ki Moon the Secretary General of the United Nations will come to Doha during COP18? I just hope that I get flash of him 🙂
Fifth, I must drive (I’d rather take bus) to Ras Laffan a bit earlier, as minutes later, I may be caught in the very long queue line to enter Ras Laffan City. Security is made tougher and more stringent with more frequent checks.
Sixth, many events organized as sidelines to the conference. From Qatar Sustainability Expo, to DFI screening to march. At least it offers a variety to our Qatar life.
Seventh, Indonesia sends its delegates to COP18 and has arranged Indonesian Climate Change Day on the 1st and 2nd December 2012, La Cigale Hotel. I am thinking if I can support this by attending the event. Also, let me (I mean us) know if Indonesian delegates need our escort to go to dune or Inland Sea :). Free.
Welcome our COP18 delegates. Welcome to Doha. Enjoy!
Kampoeng Festival
Forwarded this info of Kampoeng Festival.
This is an Indonesian event organized by Rumah Kita (lit. Our Home, Ind.) – a non-profit charity organisation formed and run by Indonesian youth in Qatar. The event will be held in Al Khor Community on the 23rd of November 2012. It includes street festival featuring traditional dances/performances/carnival, traditional street hawkers, night markets, live bands and fashion show. A special performance will also be conducted in AKIS Amphitheater where all proceeds from 10QR tickets will go to charity.
For more information:
CFSP: Another Feather in My Cap
After waiting for almost 3 months, the long awaited result finally came today (21 Sep). I got certified in functional safety after passing an exam conducted on 29 June 2012, in UK. Prior to this exam, I took a 4-day course on the subject, managed and delivered by exida (www.exida.com ) . I scored 39/40 points in multiple choice and 16/20 points in short answer questions; enough to pass 80% minimum points requirements to become certified in functional safety. It means I can bear the title CFSP (Certified Functional Safety Professional) title.
Alhamdulillah. Another feather in my cap. Thanks to Qatargas, our supervisor and manager, and my family for all your supports.
A brief intro about functional safety.
Functional Safety is the part of the overall safety of a system or a piece of equipment that depends on the system or equipment operating correctly in response to its inputs, include the safe management of likely operator errors, hardware failures, and environmental changes.
Functional Safety is achieved when every specified safety function is carried out and the level of performance required of each safety function is met. This is normally achieved by a process that includes the following steps as a minimum:
1. Identifying what the required safety functions are. This means the hazards and safety functions have to be known.
2. Assessment of the risk-reduction required by the safety function. This will involve a Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Assessment.
3. Ensuring the safety function performs to the design intent, including under conditions of incorrect operator input and failure modes. This will involve having the design and lifecycle managed by qualified and competent engineers carrying out processes to a recognised functional safety standard. In Europe, that standard is IEC EN 61508, or one of the industry specific standards derived from IEC EN 61508 (i.e 61511 for process industries)
4. Verification that the system meets the assigned SIL
5. Conduct functional safety audits to examine and assess the evidence that the appropriate safety lifecycle management techniques were applied consistently and thoroughly in the relevant lifecycle stages of product.
The Certified Functional Safety Expert program helps individuals gain the knowledge and skills to become recognized experts in the application & design of safety systems.
The CFSE certification program entails both a review of the applicant’s experience and the satisfactory completion of a proficiency exam. Passing the CFSE exam requires a solid in-depth knowledge of functional safety. Many applicants choose to augment their existing skill set prior to the exam by attending one of the optional preparatory training classes offered by our partners.
Certification is provided in two levels; CFSE and CFSP. The CFSE is aimed at professionals where functional safety is a major part of their role in the organization. They are typically responsible for leading, coordinating, and reviewing the activities of the safety lifecycle, including the more complex activities such as SIL Selection and SIL verification. The CFSP is targeted at professionals where functional safety is a secondary role or they are expected to support safety lifecycle projects on an execution level.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_Safety
Dine at Height – Three Sixty Revolving Restaurant, The Torch
We turn 12 this March. Ah…time flies. 12 years ago we tied the knot, and here we are today.
Three sixty restaurant – the first Qatar’s revolving restaurant – at The Torch Doha Hotel is our witness in commemorating our 12.
No children please.
Indicative cost:
Aqua Panna 1L, 30QR
1 Onion Soup, 36QR – recommended
1 Caesar Salad, 60QR – recommended
1 Australian Lamb Fillet, 150QR –
1 Veal Scallopini, 160QR
1 Apple Crumble, 38QR – recommended
1 World Cup 2022 (mixed juice), 32QR
[see the following pictures of the hotel, restaurant and the food]
Souq Land
Souq Land, at Souq Waqif, is just like another Pasar Malam (Ind. means Night Bazaar), but more modern, brand new and clean. Accompanied my kids, thrown myself back to childhood.
See The Peninsula for more detail.
Where to go during National Sports Day?
Qatar is on full swing to celebrate the first National Sports Day, fall on the second Tuesday of February and also decreed as a holiday. Here are some ideas where to go during National Sports Day (NSD) celebration.
1. Attend your-company organized events
It’s probably the best time when you beat your boss or see them in sportswear or rather informal suit, or to catch up with your colleagues you only see their names on email. For example, Qatargas organizes NSD events at Al Gharafa Club for all its Doha-based employes and families and in Al Khor Community for its Al-Khor-based employees and families.
Where is your company-organized NSD event? If there is, you gotta attend it.
2. Head to for-public NSD events
If your company does not organize any event, why don’t you head to the popular places such as Corniche, Aspire Park, MIA Park, and Katara where big companies and organizations such as QNB, Aspire Zone, Qtel, MIA, and QOC organize events for public. Some offer free gifts (QOC) or big reward (QNB for Mini Marathon).
Take a look the below flyers for details
QOC
9.00 – 21.00pm. Corniche with main activities (shooting, football, basketball, table tennis, tennis, athletics, electronic games, face painting, healthy food court, QOC majlees, FIREWORKS!) in QOC Sports Zone at the ground of QPost. Get 2 stamps (one for starts at MIA/Sheraton Park and one for finish line at Sports Zone) for free gift.
Qtel at MIA Park
9am – opening ceremonies. include many competitions and amazing prizes to win
10am – Hala Al Turk
11.30am – Martial Arts
01.00pm – Football talents featuring Arab Got Talent Celebrity Moaatz Al Qwasmi
02.30pm – Skating featuring Arab Got Talent Celebrity Hassan and Hussein
03-05.00pm Karamesh Children, famous children singing group
QNB at Aspire Park Section 2A
Starts at 12noon for activities for the whole families followed by mini marathon for amateurs at 2pm. Registration at http://www.qnb.com.qa
Aspire Zone
A Walk to Remember. Discover up-close Aspire Zone’s amazing world. 10am – 4pm. Enjoy a fun, healthy, informative walk. Get stamps for all 9 points during the walk and claim your free gift.
Katara
Indoor and Outdoor activities. From movie show, painting exhibition, lecture, fitness class, and photography exhibition for indoor, to mini marathon, bicycle track, table tennis, beach football, water sports demo, outdoor basketball, beach volley ball, yoga by the sea and sports zone for kids for outdoor activities. Free of charge, some activities require registration.
Government Institutions Across Qatar
Check many events organized by government institutions across Qatar:
http://www.olympic.qa/SiteCollectionImages/documents/events_en.pdf
3. Grab TV remote and enjoy view-for-free sports channels
Qtel opens its Mozaic sports channels from 11-16 February on the occasion of National Sports Day. Customers will be able to watch a full range of sports on all Al Jazeera, AD Sports, Cricone, Ten Cricket, Neo Cricket, OSN Sports, Fox Sports and Extreme Sports channels.
4. Sports+Valentine’s? Why not…
While I don’t believe Valentine Day and don’t celebrate it, the idea of mixing Sports+Valentine’s is not that bad. Sweat + Love smells romantic?
5. James Blunt concert
The British crooner will have a concert at InterContinental Hotel, 14 Feb, starts at 9pm. Ticket QR250 for general admission and QR500 for VIP, available at Virgin Megastores or InterContinental Hotel Lobby.
Now my plan is to attend Qatargas NSD events in Al Gharafa Sports Club, head to Katara if time permits, then enjoy a full range of Indonesian national dishes brought up by potlucks among Indonesian friends. It seems perfect end after sweating with NSD events (only thing reminds me with Sunday morning jogging at Gedung Sate Bandung that it’s not for the jogging but for the food and its Sunday road-side markets 🙂 )
What is your plan then?
Qatar Motor Show 2012 – A Guide
The second edition of Qatar Motor Show was just opened to public since today, 25 Jan 2012, and it runs until 28 Jan 2012. Here are some guides to the show.
– References: Facebook – Qatar Motor Show, Website – Qatar Motor Show
– Open for public: 25 – 28 Jan 2012. Free admission
– Timing: Wed-Thu (25-26) 4pm – 10pm, Fri – Sat (27-28) 1pm – 10pm
– Location: Doha Exhibition Center (next to Katara) for Exhibition and open area south of exhibition center for outdoor shows
– Parking: anywhere around the exhibition center both on asphalted parking lot and ground. Some parking on road side between Exhibition and Katara. Parking lot on the east side of the building is a bit quieter. Expect crowded parking and traffic jams during weekend
– Requirements: No children under 12 years old allowed to exhibition
– Food: Costa Cofee, snack counters near spectator seating in outdoor show arena
– Exhibitors: see Floor Plan below. Almost all big brands present except Honda, KIA, Mitsubishi. Don’t miss photo with many luxury cars, concept cars, and F1 cars. Also try F1 video games at Shell booth
– Outdoor Shows: Red Bull Drifting Shows, Stunt Biker Show, Red Bull FMX. Check the following link for outdoor show timing on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Here are some pictures I took on Wednesday.
CGK-DOH 