OK, on with the journey. Our trip to Doha was uneventful. Anita and I were seated beside each other across the aisle in the front most section of three economy sections. The seats next to each of us remained open just as Lewis has promised.
The flight was filled with individuals going to India and Pakistan - apparently the layover time in Doha is much shorter than other routes. India is only 4 hours further and Pakistan comes in at two hours more. Chatted with and photographed a young mother returning to India with her 2-month old son - Heron (sp?). Mom had come to help her with the new baby and was returning with her. She expected her husband to join her as it was possible that her brother would be married soon. Plus the ceremonies welcoming her son were planned.
My seat mate was returning to Pakistan for a stay through February to care for aging parents. We spoke about caring for parents at a distance and agreed that although Jim's folks were as close as Kansas, it really wasn't any easier.
Anita and I are in a transit area with a food court and duty free shopping area. We will visit each separately. We have agreed that even with the limited luggage we have - it's too much to cart around. We will send as much as possible home from Botswana before Cairo and Cyprus.
Anita and I are chatting about our initial impressions - signs are in English and Arabic. Flush toilets. Teens dressed similarly to our teens. Lots of backpacks. But many traditional dress - women totally covered with only eye slits. A prayer room for 'gents', a smoking room for 'gents'. A boy playing with a remote control car. I want to take photos but will check with security first.It was really hot outside as we walked from the plane into the terminal. We came off the plane, down stairs to a waiting bus and then the short hot walk into the airport where some went through immigration and we went quickly through security to the transit waiting area.
The airport sign says it's been here since 1975.
On the airplane we were given soft bags with ear plugs, tooth brush with tiny toothpaste, socks and eye shades. The ear bugs (which hurt to use) were to give we access so we could enjoy the IFC system. (IN FLIGHT COMMUNICATIONS) The back of the seat in front of you had a screen with multiple controls for movies, TV shows, games and much more. I brought the guide home with me - there must have been hundreds of choices - many more than the average person could enjoy even during a 13 hour flight as we had. I watched two movies (Kung Fu Panda and 27 Dresses), except not the ending of the second because we landed early! Hope it's available on our next flight tonight to Johannesburg. (NOTE - 27 Dresses was available only in business and first class! But as of today - 10-1 - I finally watched the whole movie!) Slept about 7-8 hours of the 13 hour flight.
Dinner was about 2 hours in - vegetarian rice with hot sauce and hot crunchies, green mashed spinach (?) and legumes. Salad, roll and sweet round donuts drenched in honey for dessert. Breakfast was about 2 hours before landing and was scrambled eggs, 2 small potato patties, mushrooms and tomatos, fruit yogurt, bun with cream cheese and juice.
Took my AM medications at about 4 pm local time. Don't know what time it is back home, but I just finished breakfast. I'll take my evening meds as we get ready to board the plane tonight around 12:30 am local time. We have about a 6 hour layover.
Men walk through the area in long white robes and flat round head coverings (like the 'pillbox' hat from the 60s). Many women in black slacks and head scarfs. Then there are jeans, tennis shoes and short sleeves, very modern looking.
I see a young man with a camcorder so photos much be OK. I think I'll still ask. (NOTE - I didn't ask, and I did take some photos.)
Anita and I took turns wandering around. I took some photos of signs. I'd love to shot some people but I don't want to offend.
Anita is talking with a lady returning to Pakistan who agreed to a photo - her daughter, Fatima, came soon after and let me know that one brother is at Oxford where they were visiting him and another brother is in Qatar. She is in the 8th grade and wants to be an army doctor. She says she will also go to Oxford.
Anita is off exploring for food. Since our flight to Johannesburg is so late, we really don't know when we will get fed. I watched our stuff. She came with with really unexpected news. Any Qatar passenger with a layover between flights of more than 5 hours is given a voucher for a meal for a cafeteria like food space. This is not like the food court I photographed with a TCBY and A&W. I had rice, curry chicken and dal veggies (really spicy), roll and apple for later. The curry and dal opened my sinuses from this cold I seem to be getting.
As I was in line for my meal, I spoke briefly with a woman whose hands and feet had beautiful henna designs. She told me she was on her way to Halifax where her brother who is a physician was marrying off his son. According to her, the henna designs will last about 10 days. I asked before she told me her story if the designs were for her wedding. No, she laughed, I'm too old. I'm 60! Well, I'm 61, I said, and I'd get married if I didn't already have a husband. She said she didn't believe I was 60 because my skin had no wrinkles. It's because of my good husband, I said. She was still laughing as we parted.
Talk with all of you the next time I can get to a computer that is working.
