Well I had every intention of getting this going awhile, life has been interesting say the least.
I have seen and tasted some many wonderful flavors and cuisines, explored a few markets and probably ventured into a few places I really shouldn't have been.
The journey to the Middle East has been kind of surreal, one day I am just lounging around Atlanta and three days later and unplanned I am on plane to Qatar. I spent about three weeks in Manama, Bahrain during the riots and even was at the Pearl during one of those days. I must say the people where very friendly, it seemed more of street fair versus a protest. Than the GCC or Gulf Army pulled into town and things went upside down for awhile. I felt totally safe and secure in port and really didn't want to have to pack it up and go. It took me about six hours to realize we where a banding and closing the doors on the fly. We emptied every cooler and freezer and loaded everything onto the pier, it was $20,000 plus of meat, seafood, produce and dairy anything that could or might spoil without refrigeration out the door. The upside was that it was distributed to the dock workers, whom make at best around $15 a day. Then it was a the trip to the airport, in out little convoy past all the military checkpoints and tanks. Which really was just foreshadowing of the 4 hour wait to pass security at the front door of the airport one of three. Well after a mire six hours I was finally at the counter and actually was able to get a flight back to Doha, (it was the midnight run but eh who is picking under those circumstances.
Well to Doha, a much needed night of rest and off to the Souk (bizarre) this was very exciting. All the fun vendors and just sitting in street cafe sipping coffee and watching people smoking their hookahs.
Next day I ventured down to the Corniche (beach) and came upon the fish market. they just lay the fish out on tarps and buckets, many of them still alive. the variety was amazing and I had a hard time deciding on what was my pick. I went for the Hamour (local grouper) delightful delicate flesh. Just simply broiled with a little olive oil, sea salt and few greens on the side. My kind of a meal.
I have seen and tasted some many wonderful flavors and cuisines, explored a few markets and probably ventured into a few places I really shouldn't have been.
The journey to the Middle East has been kind of surreal, one day I am just lounging around Atlanta and three days later and unplanned I am on plane to Qatar. I spent about three weeks in Manama, Bahrain during the riots and even was at the Pearl during one of those days. I must say the people where very friendly, it seemed more of street fair versus a protest. Than the GCC or Gulf Army pulled into town and things went upside down for awhile. I felt totally safe and secure in port and really didn't want to have to pack it up and go. It took me about six hours to realize we where a banding and closing the doors on the fly. We emptied every cooler and freezer and loaded everything onto the pier, it was $20,000 plus of meat, seafood, produce and dairy anything that could or might spoil without refrigeration out the door. The upside was that it was distributed to the dock workers, whom make at best around $15 a day. Then it was a the trip to the airport, in out little convoy past all the military checkpoints and tanks. Which really was just foreshadowing of the 4 hour wait to pass security at the front door of the airport one of three. Well after a mire six hours I was finally at the counter and actually was able to get a flight back to Doha, (it was the midnight run but eh who is picking under those circumstances.
Well to Doha, a much needed night of rest and off to the Souk (bizarre) this was very exciting. All the fun vendors and just sitting in street cafe sipping coffee and watching people smoking their hookahs.
Heaven. Foreign city, a little gunfire and some fresh fish.
ReplyDeleteDoha is great! Our favorite is the Sheraton, near the big the big coffee pot. Bahrain was our sweet freedom from
ReplyDeleteSaudi Arabia. I love to go to the souqs and the markets. Hmmm I miss some of that.