Restaurant Review || Shebestan Palace, Souk Waqif

Shebestan Palace, Souk Waqif 

Last week I was blessed to have three friends from the UK join me in Doha for a week of girlie fun and relaxation. One evening I took them around Souq Waqif and one of the girls spotted this delightful restaurant while we were walking around.  

Beautiful hallway leading to the restaurant

The entrance is absolutely stunning and very attractive, the long hallway to the actual restaurant was adorned with coloured glass and sparkles, which was obviously why we were attracted to it in the first place!  

Colourful interior design inside, complete with a soothing fountain

The menu was vast, some meals were budget friendly, but most cost around 110QR and up.  Hummus to start was 22QR and came in a small pot, but, there wasn't anything to accompany it!  

The sparkles lay on the ceiling too!

I ordered a lamb curry dish which came with fresh bread and a side salad which was 50 QR, the bread was plentiful, however, I think I only had around 5 chunks of Lamb in my dish, the rest was sauce and vegetables, the side salad was rather on the slim side too! That aside, it was very tasty and the service was excellent!

Bon Appetit!

Spa Review || Diva Lounge Spa

DIVA LOUNGE SPA

Diva Lounge Spa, The Gate Mall - West Bay

Pedicure at Diva Lounge Spa - West Bay

One lazy Friday afternoon during Ramadan (last week!) my friend Suzanne and I decided that we NEEDED a pedicure.  The mission was on!  We called many, many salons, big names and smaller local ones in a bid to find a place that will rescue our feet, all were fully booked and only had spaces at 9pm... it was 2pm and we wanted something within the hour.

Just as I was about to give up all hope, lucky call number six put me thought to Diva Lounge Spa in The Gate Mall, West Bay.  They had space for two people and we had 40 minutes to get there - easy peasy on a Friday and it was ramadan too.

After squeeles of excitement (mainly from me) we were off!  We arrived and the spa was empty - perfect, just how I like them.  What amazed me was the other branch was jam packed and had no space until 9pm!  However, being in a close mall clearly has it's advantages.

Diva Lounge Spa - Reception Area

Friendly staff, clean, new, and roomy, we we both very pleased with our new find - neither of us had been there before.

Diva Lounge Spa - View from Pedicure seat!

As we sat there chit catting we looked at the beauty menu and wondered what else we could be tempted with seeing as we were the only two in there!  With too much to choose from it was going to have to be another, better planned, visit to the spa!

Diva Spa Lounge - new feet! 

One-hour later and slightly sleepy from our relaxing pamper - my feet look brand new again and adorn a perfect french pedicure... my failsafe when I cannot decide on a colour!

As we left I spotted these nifty card holders - how nice are these?

Overall a very pleasant, relaxing, reasonably priced visit (145 QR for a 1-hour pedi with french paint).

I will be going back again, especially during a very quiet time too!

Happy Spa-ing!

Afternoon Tea || W Hotel, Doha

A lovely friend of mine celebrated her birthday enjoying afternoon tea at the W Cafe and I was lucky enough to go along :)

We went on a Saturday but booked ahead so a booth could be secured, which was rather useful on a Saturday because there were many visitors wanting tea! 

Finger sandwiches, a plate filled with little cakes and glorious fat scones with cream and jams arrived on the table, and instantly we whipped out our phones! 

Additionally, you are presented with a wonderful pot of tea of your choice. 

3 hours later with our bellies full of delightful goodies, washed down with tea (or coffee), we rolled out of the booth with large smiles on our faces! 

The service was excellent as always and I can't wait until the next visit! 

Beauty Salon Review || Desert Princess

Desert Princess 

British run hair and beauty salon

Dermalogica Facial Experience

Dermalogica Facial.  Source: Google Images

Located off Salwa Road, this beauty salon is a wonderful hideaway to escape to when you need to leave Doha and return to the UK (without paying for a flight!).

Desert Princess Waiting Area. Source: Desert Princess 

Well thought out and decorated with British charm, this beauty salon has much to offer; Swimming Pool (covered), large hair salon, nail bars and beauty treatment rooms.  

My reason for the visit today was to have a 60 minute Dermalogica facial.... dreamy! Having been in Qatar for over a year now, a Dermalogica facial as I know it to be (steam, extractions, peels, head massage, scented oils etc) was very hard to find. Other salons offer facials, but not a Dermalogica one which is what I specifically missed! 

I met with my therapist, Veerle, who is from Holland and very nice, I told her my facial woes and what i'd love to achieve over a period of time.  After a quick chat and filling out of a questionnaire, I was led upstairs to the beauty room. 

Upon entering the room had wonderful relaxing music playing, candles lit, and a perfectly positioned beauty bed with my name written all over it!  60 minutes flew by, but they were relaxing minutes and I was in utter bliss knowing that I was in great hands, and that i'd finally found my go-to place for my Dermalogica facials.

Once Veerle had finished this amazing treatment, we had a chat about other products I can add to my Dermalogica collection at home, and any areas of concern.  Reluctantly getting changed, I sorted my 'post-facial hair' and headed down to reception where i met Veerle and swiftly booked in another appointment for next month.... this time a 75 minute one with a full neck and shoulder massage too.

I will certainly go to Veerle each month to keep on top of my skincare routine, she is very knowledgeable and i'm so excited to have found Desert Princess!

Desert Princess Logo. Source: Desert Princess Facebook Page

Restaurant Review || Tse Yang

TSE YANG

The Pearl Qatar

One Tuesday evening we decided to head out for an authentic Chinese meal, and since hearing of the new Chinese Chef in Tse Yang it was an easy decision to make!

Tse Yang is located on The Pearl, so we parked opposite the Mosque (on the right as you enter The Pearl) and strolled over to the restaurant (opposite to Ferrari Showroom).

Upon arrival we were kindly greeted by a waitress in traditional Chinese attire and taken through a dark, red-light hall way to an impressive, large dining room. 

There was certainly plenty to chose from and I decided to go for a Lychee mocktail (my favorite) and hubby went for his favorite liquor.  Our waitress was very knowledgeable, polite and not over bearing.  As neither of us had lunch that day (reserving ourselves for this dinner) we had a soup each, with honey glazed duck to nibble on... the duck melted in your mouth and was like nothing i've had before, it was simply exquisite. 

After lots of 'mmmmmm' noises throughout our starter, we proceeded to order our mains: Vegetable noodles, mixed rice, a beef dish and a chicken dish.  They arrived on our table sizzles and steaming to which we both started our noises of enjoyment again... mmmmmmmm.

With our stomachs full of wonderful, aromatic food we recline back in our seats and enjoyed the atmosphere.  

I give Tse Yang a 4.5 / 5 and will be heading back there in November for my birthday (providing the chef does not leave).

Their contact details are: 4495 3876

Happy Eating!

Pregnant in Doha, Qatar

Congratulations!  

You find out your pregnant what to do next?

Most people will ask someone they know, or a friend of a friend, to find out what they did, who they saw and the best place to buy everything mother and baby!  As a first-time expectant mummy i'm learning as I go and happy to share the information with you and try to assist you too!

Where to go?

Many ladies I have spoken to have started off at Al-Emadi hospital and went to see Dr.Sonia.

Website here: Al-Emadi

Al-Emadi is expensive, however, as I am fully covered with insurance it was not something I needed to contemplate.  Should you wish to go to Hamad hospital (i'm yet to go there), you will first need to register to obtain your Hamad medical card, and then you will be able to go along.  I suspect like most NHS hospitals in the UK it will be very busy, however, I have not been in there and cannot advise!  Hamad hospital is the place you will be sent to in the event of an utter emergency during labour and they have many great Dr's to hand.  The reason I didn't go there is because Dr. Sonia came highly recommended to me, and I had seen her before in the past.

Dr. Sonia is a wonderful, kind lady whose office is showered with thank you cards and small gifts; it's safe to say she knows what she is doing!  The only caveat i've been told is that she does not deliver, so you will need to decide whether or not to remain there and have the Dr on rota at that time of your delivery, or move to a Dr who will be there throughout the pregnancy and there for the delivery too.  The latter I am contemplating however, I do trust Dr. Sonia a great deal and it's certainly not a hasty decision to be made.

When you first go there, it's always a good idea to carry your marriage certificate too in the event they ask for it - we weren't asked but I had already registered there and my ID shows that I am under husband sponsorship. My biggest piece of advice is: avoid weekends!  If you can't avoid the weekend, go first thing in the morning eg: 8am. 

First appointment

You will have a scan, blood tests and given pregnancy tablets to take.  I was in the hospital for 3 hours, but I didn't go there until 5pm on a saturday evening - big mistake.

Thereafter, you will meet with Dr. Sonia once a month for scans and then at key stages you will have more tests etc.

Maternity Clothes in Doha

Given the huge families here in Qatar I was certain that the one thing clothes shops will not be short on is maternity wear..... how wrong was I?

I have managed to get a top  and two pairs of shorts from H&M, Bras (very unflattering) from Mamas & Papas and that's it so far.  At the moment i'm living in unbuttoned trousers and jeans, stretching into my 'fat-day' tops and soon I will be in a desperate situation! 

I have been to: Marks & Spencers (1 set of maternity bras only), Mamas & Papas (bras, granny & casual clothes: think flair jeans, low cut dresses etc), Zara (nothing), Mango (nothing), H&M (two racks of clothes which aren't the greatest), Gap (nothing), Next (nothing), Mothercare (Nothing, baby clothes only), La Senza (Nothing), as you can see it's shocking!  Luckily for me I am going to the UK in July where I will raid every shop possible and come back with 30kg of clothes that Doha severely lacks to cater for.

For those of you who aren't going to the UK, or back to your home country, I suggest shopping online at: ASOS, New Look, Gap, Next, the list is endless.  ASOS offer free international shipping and they usually deliver to your home or office - which beat's queuing at Aramex and risk having your clothes sliced as they open the parcel to check what's inside! 

I will keep updating you all with what happens, if you are pregnant and due in 2014 get in touch!  Maybe we can meet for a decaf coffee and go hunting for clothes together :)

Good luck xoxo

Photo Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Restaurant Review || Caravan Restaurant

Caravan Restaurant

 

Caravan  Restaurant   Photo Source: Google Images

Inexpensive, tasty and filling, Caravan is a great place to gather some friends together and eat until you can't move!  They do serve alcohol as well as lots of cuisines (Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Vegetarian,), salad bar, soup bar and most importantly, a dessert bar.

Their price is very reasonable: 55 QR all you can eat buffet per person (drinks excluded). 

They have large tables for big groups and smaller tables for families and couples, the restaurant is always clean, friendly staff and fresh food constantly churning out of the kitchen.

I recommend Caravan for an inexpensive evening, very good towards the end of the month when funds are running out!  Caravan is nestled in the food corner opposite Ramada Hotel.

Caravan was awarded Trip Advisor's 'Certificate of Excellence 2013'.  

Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g294009-d1846464-Reviews-Caravan-Doha.html

Location Map: http://goo.gl/maps/4ghEd 

Hints & Tips || Beauty Needs

 

Source: Pinterest

 Beauty 

 ..... every girl's favorite word after diamonds!  As an avid pursuer of all things hair and beauty, I take every opportunity to visit salons and spas when time permits, and now that I have been in Qatar for 7months, I am starting to get into a routine of where to go for what treatment.

Glow American Salon

Glow has three locations: Salwa Road; West Bay Lagoon and Beach Tower, and has everything that you would desire; hair, nails, massaging, waxing, eyelashes, eyebrows.... the list goes on.  Owned by American's, they certainly know a thing or two about customer service and the importance of it's existence.   Glow's receptionists are friendly, smiley, extremely helpful and the Salwa Road branch now greet me by my first name as I walk in, and they also recognise me on the telephone when I call to make (another) appointment, which I think is professional and impressive considering the large numbers of clients Glow has!  

Glow's prices are very reasonable across the board, I have so far had, and regularly have: highlights, cuts, blow dries, manicures, HD Brows, Facials, Massages and LVL lash treatments - it's safe to say that I am addicted to their hair and beauty treatments.   

Glow regularly sends out newsletters to those who have signed up to their mailing lists, with news updates and very often amazing offers.  Offers require booking by a certain date, with a certain person and you must take along the coupon on the email.  Additionally, as Glow is growing and training new therapists, or stylists, they often need models too.  I recently assisted Glow by allowing their wax therapists to train on me, it was free of charge and I have continued with the treatment ever since.  

Overall, Glow is on-trend, first for new treatments in Qatar, easy to find, addictive and have very good newsletters too!  So, my advice to you is go to Glow, they will take you under their wings and look after you.

Website: http://www.glowamericansalon.com/intro/

Blue Brush Studio

 

Based in The Hilton Hotel, Blue Brush is run and managed by a team of French professionals.  There is a gentleman (David) who is an expert with cutting and styling your hair, and an excellent colourist (Saoud) who will transform your hair, whether it be a new colour, or maintaining your existing colour. 

Easy to find, easy to park, Blue Brush is petit in size but grand in quality.  I recently decided to change my hair colour, from platinum blonde to a red head :)  As always, I took along photos to give Saoud an idea of what I would like to achieve.  A couple of hours later I was transformed: the coverage was excellent, the colour was shiny and beautiful, and I was a very happy customer.  I had gone in with black roots, blonde hair and come out with a colour that looked like it was my natural colour.  Saoud is a very friendly lady, I very much enjoyed chatting and giggling with her, and she provided me with some excellent advice on how to manage my new colour.  Reasonably priced, I highly recommend 'Magic Saoud' to colour your hair and David to give you the highest technical cut and blow that your hair needs.  Children are welcome as guests or customers, both Saoud and David have great patience with them, which is good news for all of you mummy's out there.  Highly recommend Blue Brush for your hair.

Website: http://www.bluebrushhairstudio.com/who/

I will keep adding to this list as I venture out to more salons and spa's, so keep your eyes peeled!

Hints & Tips || Food Shopping

When it comes to doing your food shopping there are a couple of things you can do to make the experience less stressful!  

1)  Do not shop for food on Friday afternoon!

Friday's here in Qatar are the holy day and so very little will be happening shop wise.  However, Carrefour will be open from 8am until 10am in most locations.  By going in the morning you will avoid the large crowds as most will be resting from a big Thursday night out, or taking their day easy - perfect for food shoppers as you will have a more leisurely shop and less people to bump into down the aisles.

2)  Do go to Family Food Centre! (FFC)

The fruits and veg may not be wiped free from soil, nor displayed perfectly, however FFC is, in my opinion, the cheapest place to go food shopping.... and everything else shopping.  Most of the basics are there and usually 2-3 Riyals cheaper than elsewhere, which all adds up and saves you a few Durhams to spend on more exciting things.  FFC does cater for those who are in need of Wheat-free goods and they also have healthy food stuffs such as Quinoa, brown pastas and cous-cous.  

There are three store locations, so check out their website for the one closest to you: http://family.com.qa/location-map/

Healthy Food Section - Horray!

Cheapest in town!

11QR at FFC but 15QR in Mega Mart

BIOFAIR - 37.50QR / granovita - 38.50QR

Lizi's Granola 28QR

3) British products!

Every now and then I will crave something from the UK; biscuits, a brand of cereal, Wotsits, UK Diet Coke etc, etc, and when I do, I head over to Mega Mart, which is a bit like walking into a Tesco or Waitrose (they sell their products too!). Of course, where anything has been imported the prices increase, however I think the satisfaction makes it worth it.

Here are the Mega Mart locations: http://goo.gl/maps/KCLXm 

Good Luck!

Hints & Tips || Order food online

As I sat in the office typing away on a report, it dawned on me that it was coming up to lunch but I had no food, and couldn't face eating yet another 'Coffee Time' sandwich ... blurgh.

I had a quick look online and discovered www.FoodOnClick.com.  A website which houses all the restaurants in your local area who will deliver food to you.  I tested it out and purchased lunch from Bread & Bagels, one hour later my food arrived!

So, if you are working away in the office, or simply want to eat something new but don't want to leave your desk, then Food On Click is perfect for you. You will need cash for most purchases, however there are a few such as Bread & Bagels who will let you pay by card when they arrive to your location.

Bon Appetite!

Spa Review|| Royal Thai Lady Spa

I have heard many good reviews about this spa, so one Saturday afternoon I decided to see if they could squeeze me in.

Royal Thai Lady Spa - Al Waab Street, Doha

Easy to find and has parking outside, accessibility isn't an issue.  It's very well known so if you take a taxi there you won't need to give the taxi driver directions!  One thing you need to know about Spa's and mos beauty establishments in Qatar is that men are strictly forbidden to go inside one and some ask that you leave the children behind too.  

I opted for an aromatherapy oil massage (170QR), I didn't opt for a Thai Massage (130QR) because I wanted a relaxing massage and usually I don't relax when I have a small human walking on me! 

Moments after arriving, my feet were placed in a large golden bowl of warm water and I was given a foot scrub - perfect.  I was then taken upstairs and along the way I enjoyed looking at the beautiful Thai decor throughout; I felt like I had left Doha. 

Pretty Thai statue that welcomes you at the entrance

My room was not a room per say, but it had a place for my items and hooks for my clothes and handbag.  The background music was difficult to hear as I was beside the a/c unit but soon became white noise.  As time progressed I realised that I could hear everything going on around me; people talking, the a/c unit, a iPhone ringing in the cubicle next to me because the lady in there had failed to turn on her phone off despite the signs and the toilet flushing!

The actual massage was great, all of my knots and aches were loosened and the Thai therapist had great skills.  I would have that massage again, but not in the cubicle with a curtain (think shop fitting room where you can throw things over the top to the next person in the next cubicle).

When it was time to go, I was escorted downstairs and given a small glass of water to sip for a few moments. In my own time, I went to the desk to pay.  'How was your experience?' asked the kind receptionist, I gave compliments to the therapist and said exactly what I've written above, that it was too noisy which made it hard to relax.  The receptionist advised me that they have one room with a door and full walls, and relaxing music, so next time I just need to specify that I want that room, and the best part is that there's no extra cost. 

Overall:

Treatment: 9/10

Experience: 4/10

Staff: 10/10

Cost: Lower end - Average 

Tips: Call in advance and ask for the quiet room

Final words:

Although not entirely relaxing, it was a through 1 hour, the therapist managed to get rid of a lot of knots that I had and finished by cracking my back which was so delightful!  I do recommend you go, but make sure you ask for the room if you want a dreamy treatment. 

Was this helpful?  What was your experience at the Royal Thai Lady Spa?

Moving to Qatar from the UK

Moving to Qatar

 

 

Clothes, shoes - where do they all fit?

Luckily for me, I did not have a house to empty, children to move nor require an international moving company to take me to my new home.

If you are moving with a couple of suitcases, I found using vacuum bags extremely useful.  I could fit in a lot more than rolling, or laying clothes flat inside the suitcase.  If you are in the UK, you can buy them in Argos, Amazon or even Ebay!  I bought mine from Argos and collected them in the store.

They are very easy to use:  Put as many clothes into the bag, but leaving a little bit of a gap where the zip is - say 2 inches.  Press the bag closed, unscrew the cap on the valve and apply your hoover to the end of it, turn hoover on and watch the clothes reduce - ta daa!!

I managed to fit into one suit case: 1 double wardrobe of clothes and 4 large drawers worth of clothes.....

Ah-mazing!

What you do not need to bring - endless thick jumpers, thick cardigans, thick anything!  I've got one thick jumper and 7months later i've not touched it... even during the Winter in Qatar all you need is a cardigan and maybe a little jacket.  So unless you plan to leave Qatar and go skiing somewhere,  you really do not need thick layers.  Same with shoes, all I wear in Qatar are a pair of Mango black heels for work, or ballet pumps, and when outside I wear either flip-flops or sandals during the day, and killer heels at night (only because I am a shortie!)

Pets

Sadly I did not have any fluffy companions to bring to Qatar with me, but if you cannot bear to leave them behind with a new family, and happy to bare the costs, then I suggest six months before you move , go to the vets and get the little fluff ball injected and registered with a pet passport.  There is a very well known company here which many people and charities use to get their fluffies shipped across the oceans: http://www.qatarpettravel.com/

Paperwork

I have experienced the most stressful time with lots of different opinions and comments given to me by various people, including my HR Manager!  But, as i'm now with my RP I will tell what you need....

 Driving License

You need to drive in Qatar.  Simple.  As a Londoner, zipping around on my Brompton bike or using the train/tube/buses, coming here was a bit of a mobility shock.  Before you leave the UK you need to go to the Post Office and obtain an international driving license.  If you come to Qatar with only your UK License, then you can only  drive with it for 7 days, you can only get a temporary license with your UK one until the tourist visa in your passport runs out, however if you have an international one that lasts a year, you are a lot more mobile then just your UK one. 

I will tell you this now:  Things in Qatar take a very, long, time to do.

Unless you are lucky enough to work for one of the big Oil & Gas companies out here, your Resident Permit process will take anywhere up to 3 months - and by the way, during this time you cannot leave the country.  Once your visa has been changed from a tourist one to a business one, until you receive your RP, you cannot renew your temporary license as you are already in the system as a business visa and should have an RP.  It's during this time that I was stuck without a license and risking driving without one, which is not an option.  Taxi's are crazy, but not too badly priced, however Qatar is the hub of traffic because there are too many cars and the roads were not designed for so many. 

I digress, just make sure  you obtain that international driving license, you will thank me later!

Getting your education certificates attested in Doha

Give yourself a few months to get your certificates attested before you come to Qatar.  It's a 3 step process and i'm here to help!

Step 1: 

Gather your highest, most recent qualification/s and take them to a solicitor to get certified.  We used all original documents during this process. Once that has been done, you need to send your documents to Milton Keynes

Step 2:

Direct yourself to this link, where you fill out a form, obtain the Milton Keynes address and complete the process online.  

https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised

Step 3:

Now that you have your document certified by a solicitor and legalised by the UK Government, you will need to book an appointment with the British Embassy, Doha to get the document attested.  Once they have stamped the document, it will be accepted by your company.  Completing steps 1&2 in the UK will save you a lot of money, because everything has to be couriered to the UK and that is not cheap!

Marriage Certificate

Take it to the British Embassy in Doha straight away, along with your education certificates to get attested.  If it is not attested it is not worth anything in Qatar's eyes.   If you got married in a nice exotic country that was not your home, you might need to send it to that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get an attested stamp - however, wait until someone asks you to do that, I found out when I went to get mine stamped at the British Embassy (We got married in Trinidad & Tobago).

Passport Photos

Bring around 20 passport photos of each family member with you, they will be snapped up in no time!  If you don't remember to do this, don't fret!  There is a very good photo place located in 'City Centre Mall', when you are inside it's to the left hand side of the supermarket 'Carrefour'.  I received 8 photos which worked out to cost me around £1.50, which might even be cheaper than getting it done in the UK.

Make sure you have lots of time left on your passport too, i'm yet to experience trying to renew mine while in Qatar, but speaking with those who have done this, it was a royal pain and very slow.  You can renew your passport up to 8months before it actually expires, so I highly recommend you do this before coming to Qatar if you need to.  Also, when your documents are processed, your Business Visa sticker is placed in your passport, and your bank accounts aligned with that passport number, so to change it all..... well you can imagine the can of worms that will produce!

Birth Certificates

These don't need to be attested, but bring them along anyway, they might be required for  ID purposes, anywhere, at any time.

Useful Links:

Use this link to find how to process a certain document, eg Education certificate.
https://www.gov.uk/legalisation-document-checker/y


To book an appointment with the British Embassy, Doha:
www.britishembassydoha.clickbook.net

*All photos have been taken from Pinterest

Introduction

Hello and welcome to my blog,

I started this blog as I felt compelled to share my knowledge, experiences and photos of my new home, Qatar.

Why Qatar?  

I moved to Qatar earlier this year to be with my husband.  I had the chance to experience a new life abroad which would challenge me, yet excite me too.  I cannot speak Arabic,  I've never lived abroad, but every visit I've had to the Middle-East has always left me wanting more.  With that in mind, I knew I wanted Qatar to be my new home.

Why Blog?

Before moving to Qatar I found different answers to my many questions and most of the posts I reviewed were outdated and not in 2013.  I decided by creating a blog in the current year, hoping it will provide recent information and help those who were in the same position as I was.

I hope I help you in some way, if not, I hope you enjoy reading my blog!

Qatar skyline at night - West Bay