[QATAR EXPLORE] Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif (Arabic: سوق واقف) is an important souq in Doha, in the state of Qatar. Literally translated to "the standing market," this shopping destination is renowned for selling traditional garments, spices, handicrafts, and souvenirs. It is also home to dozens of restaurants serving cuisines from all over the world, as well as Shisha lounges. Although this market dates back at least a hundred years, it has been recently restored back to its original glory. It is now considered one of the top tourist destinations within Doha. Thousands of people from across the region frequent this market to purchase traditional goods such as wool, traditional thobes, jewelry, and perfumes. Lately Souq Wakif became a hotspot for art galleries and workshops, hosting several art galleries and events. It also hosts local concerts during the holiday seasons.

It is a cozy place where you can hang out with your friends or family. In winter particularly on the weekend you'll find this place more crowded than its normal. Following are pictures of Souq Waqif.

GPS coordinate for some Interesting places in Bali, Indonesia

• "home@36 condotel, Discovery Shopping Mall" lat=8.7273188, lon=115.1672134
• "Dreamland Beach" lat=8.7994003, lon=115.1184769
• "new kuta condotel" lat=8.8015327, lon=115.1218796
• "Jimbaran 1- Jimbaran Car Park, Bali, Indonesia" lat=8.7806044, lon=115.1645584
• "Jimbaran 2- Sunset, Kedonganan, Kuta, Indonesië" lat=8.7642431, lon=115.1698303
• "Uluwatu" lat=8.8296928, lon=115.0847931
• "Padang-Padang Beach, Bali, Indonesia" lat=8.8114634, lon=115.1033096
• "Bedugul-Pura Ulun-Danu Bratan/ Bali" lat=8.2752571, lon=115.1665573
• "PASAR SUKAWATI BALI" lat=8.5963192, lon=115.2825394
• "resto kintamani" lat=8.2832012, lon=115.3659973

Architecture Photos

Islamic Art Museum

Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif

Villagio Mall

Qatar Motor Show 2011

Oil Painting

It was nice and fun when i played my brush on canvas using oil paint. Yeaa that was my first experience in oil painting. I like painting so much. I think i have to learn and practice more and more about oil painting. It's a bit different than poster or water painting that i used before such as slow-drying characteristic. So i need to learn its characteristic. In painting, experience is the best teacher :)

Here is my first oil painting...

Nonton film Indo ?

kalo tinggal di Indo siy gak masalah nonton film Indo :) tapi kalo gak tinggal di Indo gmn? ada situs yg menampilkan film layar lebar Indonesia. Ini niy situsnya...dennyshotspot.com

seru kan film2nya? :) kalo gw siy sukanya nonton film yg lucu2 disitus ini :D  selamat menonton !

Mama Sejagat

for those who want to know Indonesian moms living abroad, check it out
http://mamasejagat.wordpress.com/category/qatar-doha/  :)

Add unlocked maps to Garmin Nuvi GPS

Thanks to my friend, Faisal Wiryasantika for this info :)

yeah i got very useful information regarding unlocked all continent maps for Garmin Nuvi GPS.
The maps can be found in Torrent, you can search it or ask me if you want :P

well i've downloaded it from torrent, now i have America, Asia, and Europe unlocked map :)
the files in zip format, extract it and you will get gmapsupp.img file.

how to load the map in GPS? it's very simple, you just put gmapsupp.img file in garmin folder in SD Card. that's all. Now insert SD card to your GPS SD card slot, in GPS go to tools-> setting -> maps -> info and check it out...

Huawei wifi router & USB mobile broadband modem integration

One of the features of Huawei HG655b router / home gateway / residential gateway (RGW) is ability to failover internet connection to USB mobile broadband. This RGW has main capability for internet service (HSI), Voice over IP (VOIP) and IPTV (connected to Set Top Box). It also support for ADSL and VDSL connection.

I had opportunity to test all the functionality before release to our (QTel) customer,  but this time i will write how i tested RGW fail over to USB mobile broadband. (currently Qtel customers are using Thomson modem for their ADSL connection)

Failover to USB modem will be useful whenever your DSL line is down or not connected to internet (due to problem or whatever) then you will be automatically connected to internet via USB mobile broadband (connecting internet via mobile/cellular network). Figure below describe how it looks like.

 

Configuration is quite simple, you just provide APN, username, and password of your mobile broadband account. Here are the steps:
- open router admin GUI in web browser, type http://192.168.1.1
- type your username and password (default: admin/admin)
- select Basic configuration and go to WAN. Type APN, username, and password of your mobile broadband service. Figure below shows mobile broadband configuration. It also describes that i am still connected to internet thru DSL connection.

- now, disconnect (unplug) your DSL line/cable then router will automatically fail over the connection to USB modem. First it will be authenticating then connected. See figure below.

 

  

 Your USB modem is now connected but has private IP address (10.x.x.x), enter your APN username & password, click submit button then you will have public IP address. Now you can still browse the internet thru your router wifi (SSID) even though your DSL connection down :)

Mobile banking application for QNB

Luckily i found QNB (Qatar National Bank) mobile banking application for iPhone. It is found in "customer also bought" section in iTunes when you go to Qtel selfservice application, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/qtel-mobile-self-services/id434563601?mt=8 . QNB named this application with eazymobile, that's why you will never find it in appstore with keyword "QNB" as i've done this sometimes ago :)
screenshot:

QTel mobile selfservice application

Qtel customers are able to download selfservice application (1st release version) now from Apple appstore and Android market.
For iPhone, customer can download from http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/qtel-mobile-self-services/id434563601?mt=8 or just search with keyword "qtel mobile self services". here is the screenshot from iPhone:

Good initiative QTel ! unfortunately some queries will be responded thru SMS message not displayed directly in the application.

Expatriats cannot take vehicles financed by banks out of Qatar

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/152231-expatriats-cannot-take-vehicles-financed-by-banks-out-of-qatar.html

DOHA: In a major move, expatriates have been barred from driving private cars out of Qatar and they could cross the country’s borders only if they prove that loans taken to buy vehicles have been fully repaid.

So, expatriate motorists need to produce loan clearance certificates from a bank or a financial services company to be able to cross the border through Abu Samra land customs check point.

The Department of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior has issued a circular to the land customs authorities at Abu Samra asking them not to allow any expatriate to leave the country in a private car unless he or she produces a loan clearance certificate.

The certificate must say that loan taken for the car being driven out of Qatar has been fully repaid.

A large number of expatriates who were travelling overseas through Abu Samra customs check point on Thursday were sent back by the customs authorities due to the new directives of the Traffic Department, Al Sharq reported yesterday.

The daily said that within hours after the diktat of the traffic authorities was issued a number of expatriates, some of them travelling with their families, had to return from the customs check point disappointed.

Expatriates from countries like Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan, among others, will be hit hard by the decision since they mostly travel to their home countries in their cars.

Non-Arab expatriates traveling in their cars to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage or those going to the UAE, Bahrain or Oman by road will also be affected.

It is understood that the move by the traffic authorities is aimed at making sure that expatriates who take car loans do not leave the country for good with the vehicles (bought through such loans) unless they have fully repaid the loan.

The Peninsula

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Artinya Apa ???
Artinya sejak edaran itu dikeluarkan expat yang ingin travelling melalui jalur darat (mengendarai mobil) keluar Qatar harus mengantongi surat/sertifikat lunas dari Bank baik itu lunas cicilan atau full.

Berarti rencana Umroh tiap tahun gw selama disini bisa berantakan kecuali mobil dilunasi dulu :P tapi Alhamdulillah juga jg sudah berumroh :)

Kemungkinan peraturan ini dilatarbelakangi oleh kasus2 mobil dibawa kabur kenegaranya oleh sebagian expat Arab (Jordan, Syria, etc). Akibatnya expat Indo jg yg kenah getahnya :(

1st post !

...dated on Friday 13th ! :)