Morning pool and panoramic.

Enjoying a relaxing weekend morning at the pool. No work on Fridays here. This is the life. Back to reality all too soon.

Panoramic view from the hotel roof pool deck.

Hot day already :)

Perfect for a morning swim, afternoon nap and evening activities!

...and also found KD!

Life in Doha can now be complete. Oh wait, still need to visit the alcohol and pork shop! Which we found out is seriously housed together. One and only place to get the both in Doha and they ration you.

Think we found 'the one'!

It's been a busy and exhausting couple days house hunting. Although tons to choose from in Doha it quickly became apparent that the type of villa we have in mind was also what many others have in mind too. After lots of research on which areas to start looking, it was a little disheartening to find out they are all full and with long waiting lists. We viewed a couple from the same developer/manager and realized that we liked how 'green' they are and how well maintained they are.

I spent day one with one real estate agent on my own while Doug had to work. Felt really good about a brand new development just about to become available. Got out yesterday with Doug and a different real estate agent who actually took us to the same place, which was nice to show Doug. We really liked the inside but it is a small compound and kind of ugly architecture. We also went to a more established area and looked at a place with it's own pool! We liked how green and lush it was, and just the feeling of the larger compound. We decided to tag along on another showing she had planned for someone else to give an apartment option a look. It was beautiful and if we had no kids, I'd be there in a heart beat. After seeing the apartment it really solidified that a villa on a compound was the right way to go. But of course after expressing interest for the one with the pool we found out it had already been taken.

But before leaving the apartment we found out there was one villa coming available on a very sought after compound and he was willing to show us the next day.

Seems like fate, like it was meant to be because as soon as we drove in we just knew. Doug called it Club Med before even seeing any of it. It's an older compound, but very popular and impossible to get in usually with a long wait list (which apparently they don't observe lucky for us). The facilities are fabulous, the pool like a resort. Because it's older it's very green, lots of trees and even grass!

It's a 3 bedroom villa with little backyard. The one we viewed is just an example, but on Saturday we'll get in to see the actual villa. The photos show the one we viewed in disrepair, but gives an idea. The outside photos are the unit we'd get though. Apparently you can plant anything or do up your backyard as you'd like and the gardeners will take care of it for you!

Very excited and so relieved to find something that matches everything we were thinking of.

Take reservations for Club Bryan now!

Today's Plan

Heading out this morning to meet with a Real Estate person from a Canadian company. Hoping to see some great places, but struggling to figure out which parts of town to even start looking. Hope today helps to narrow our search a little.

Strange it's cloudy today and Doug said it had been raining. Almost slipped outside on the sidewalk. Guess froggy and kitty boots will need to get packed!

Day One back in Doha

I don't think it's really even hit me yet that this is it! Doug is here now to stay. And dive into his new job he has. We knew the first day back would be busy with work meetings, so Doug spent the day in the office. I had hoped to get out with a real estate agent but set everything up for Tuesday and Wednesday, so spent the day researching and reading lots.

Got out in the afternoon to check out the Al Garaffa area and to visit the Lulu Hypermarket! A massive Wal-Mart type store with everything from groceries to clothes to tvs. Grocery shopping is going to be very overwhelming for awhile. Not only are there all the typical items and brands of home but all these new types of foods and strange vegetables!

Found where I can buy my Burka Mike!

The adventure continues....April 2013

Once more our bags are packed and we are ready to go. We fly to Vancouver tomorrow afternoon. Then onward to Frankfurt Germany and finally off to Doha, Qatar. Excited and sad all at the same time. Fairwell Kelowna hope to see you soon!

Dubai airport.

Heading back to Canada on Emirates Airline. Checked in and dropped off my bags. Getting ready for the 14 hour flight. Nice part is I get some time back that was lost on the way here. Excited to see everyone for Easter.

Stantec Dubai, UAE

Well it has been a good week of work in the Stantec Dubai office. Great to work with a great team of healthcare experts from Saudi Arabia, North America, India, London and Dubai. It is fantastic to be working with such a diverse group from so many different locations. I am learning so much about the local culture of the Middle East.

It is Friday today and the weekend here in Dubai. Friday and Saturday is the weekend here.

Plan for the day: relax, go for a swim, watch a movie, do some work and perhaps have a nap. Will post photos later in the day.

Made it...Dubai trip #2

Hello everyone. Well survived another 14 hour flight from Seattle to Dubai. Made it to the hotel, went for a swim and when shopping for snacks and shaving cream.

What a day left Saturday from the house at 10am and now it is Sunday at 12:16 pm (11:16 pm in Dubai). Into work in the morning so...time for bed.

Night

We're going on a mission

5....4...3..2.1 blast off!

Flight 2477 Alaska airlines and flight 230 Emirates. Up and over the North Pole.

Sad good by to Jen and the kids. Be good Maëlle for mommy.

Love you all very much!

The adventure continues...

My Bags are packed I am ready to go...back to Dubai for a week. Jen and the kids are staying home. Will be back for Easter Sunday.

Alaskan airlines to Seattle and then direct to Dubai. Leave Seattle Saturday night and arrive in Dubai Sunday night.

Wasting time in the Calgary Airport