Starry Nights at Singing Sand Dunes

The Starry Nights at the Singing Sands Dunes was definitely one of my most favourite events that I have been to since arriving in Doha.  It was such a simple event, but I just loved the location.  It reminded me very much of the time spent climbing Dune 45 in South Africa...but this sand dune was much easier to climb!!

 The start of the climb

Barefoot was the way to go 

Zoe and Mummy

We just got there as the sun was setting but next time, we will avoid getting lost so that we can sit on top of the dune and watch the sun set.

Future visitors to Doha, this will be on my "must see" list

My happy little Zoe

Zoe and Riaz, her new best friend

 Okay so the side of the sand dune doesn't look all that steep or all that tall but when you are standing at the bottom of it looking up, it is far more menacing.  We went down it once and climbed, well more like clambered our way back to the top and then went down again, but we were too knackered to go back up again

The set up below.  The tent with the colourful lights is Santa's Grotto where we patiently waited in line to see Santa, but once we made it there, Zoe just clung to me leg and refused to talk.   

The paper lanterns surrounding the bonfire. 

Zoe and her pretty pink camping chair.  

Next year I'll invest in a tent and we will camp it our in the middle of the desert under the stars!!  Anyone want to join?

 The bonfire

 Since Zoe wouldn't smile for me, I had to get her to pull faces instead

 These camping chairs were so worth their riyals!!  

Toasting marshmallows proved more difficult then expected.  The heat from the bonfire was so extreme that we couldn't get close enough.  We waited for it to die down a little and found a small flame towards the outside that we could use, but even then, it felt like we were toasting ourselves along with the marshmallow!! 

The night trek up the side of the mountain again and bum sliding her was down again.  Who needs bootcamp when you have the sand dunes to climb up!!

Gnocchi Masterclass

Is three and a half too young to start cooking?  I think not!!  Zoe banged out a gorgeous dish of Gnocchi that left me quite impressed.  Okay so she didn't quite make it from scratch, but she did do a pretty good job!!

 Waiting patiently for the class to start

Chef Zoe :) 

I had to step down and be her apprentice for the morning 

Go Zoe!! 

First is mixing the potato and flour 

With a bit of help from Chef Tommaso 

Then comes rolling 

Then cutting 

Then packing 

And the final product 

Check it out!!  Very impressive 

Graduation

Halloween fun

Halloween was a day long celebration that started at Childcare and continued on in to the night.  We managed to gate crash another compounds Trick or Treat party as in our compound, there are not many people that celebrate this day.  

Zoe was very kind and shared all her treats that she got from childcare with all the boys from our compound.  Certainly was a population girl that day and so proud of her for sharing her treasured treats!!

 Zoe in her 'not very scary' halloween outfit

  Ready for the party at childcare

  Trick or treating

  Zoe and Luke...her partner in crime!!

  Her pumpkin bag made at childcare overflowing with goodies

  Madam butterfly

When it rains, it pours!

The skies above Doha opened up yesterday bringing on rain, thunder and even lightning!!  For those that live in countries where rain is abundant, like for everyone back home, I am sure you are all wondering what is so speculator about rain but for us living in the Middle East, rain, so I am told, is a rare occurrence and people rejoice at the sight of it!!

It was no different in our compound.  Back home, rain normally makes people retreat indoors, but here, it does the exact opposite!! As the rain started to fall, more and more people came out of their villas to watch the rain fall and just take it all in.  The kids were out in force; riding their bikes, running in the rain and splashing in the puddles.  Here it seems, rain brings people together!!

The grey clouds looming above 

Rain speckled ground 

Then a very wet ground 

And even puddles!! 

Some of the kids riding their bikes in the rain 

The Aussie blood in Zoe told her to stay out of the rain but I made her join in the craze and we did a lap of the compound together.  sad to say, she didn't enjoy it one bit!!

 

Another kid splashing in the puddles

And of course, the end result of rain and a owning a black car.  

Funny cause I only got it washed the night before and the result of the rain has made it look worse than it was before it got a washed.  Lucky for me, car washes are cheap and done while you shop.  Guess the car washer will have their hands full today!!

Sun, sand and camels??

Yesterday, Zoe and I took a aimless drive around Doha to break in my new car.  It was really only suppose to be a quick drive but the smoothness of the ride ended up putting her to sleep.  So, what was suppose to be a quick drive, ended up being a two and a half hour drive instead.  I did manage to find my way around without referring to Google Maps that often, but I did get myself in to a bit of a pickle when Google Maps indicated that I was driving on a road that stopped in the middle of nowhere!!  Never mind that, cause I ended up driving on and finding civilisation!!  Phew!!

Today we took the car for another spin down to Sealine, just over an hours drive from home.  The drive was rather pleasant and peaceful with Zoe sleeping most of the way and what awaited us was exactly what we needed; sun, sand and surf!!

                           

The lonely drive with nothing but sand, sand and more sand.  

On Zoe's first day in Doha, she pointed out the window at all the sand by the side of the road and proudly proclaimed "look mum, it's just like the beach".  Little did she know that the sand is everywhere is Doha.  My front porch can be described as a beach on some days!!

Sealine Beach Resort

Zoe by the kiddies pool with its own waterslide which Zoe refused to go down.  

Looking out to the beach

The lush green gardens surrounding the pools

 Anyone for a game of chess?

The garden chess set 

 The two of us

And of course, what is a beach without camels?? 

Zoe was certain she wanted to ride the camels, but I was able to convince her that we would wait till Cousin Mya and Cousin Anaya came to ride the camels together