jeudi 26 décembre 2019

QATAR . QATAR AIRWAYS . DOHA . MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL . FOR ME ..


In this crazy world we are living in at the moment, whether large scale demonstrations in India or mass slaughtering of the protesters in Iran or jihadists knifing non believers in the countries they live in, nationwide strike in France ... all of this in the last one week, it is nice to arrive at QATAR . an oasis indeed, to use a pun..
To me Qatar means Qatar Airways which I consider to be the best Airline in the World and I would go out of my way to avail myself of their services.
and in Doha, there is no better place to be than Marriott Marquis hotel with its fine administration and wonderful service staff.
Each time I stay herem, I renew my acquaintances with old friends and make new ones, this time new friends from Sri Lanka, Philippines and Myanmar.
Ms HT in charge of the Guests makes my stay feel very special and to give an example of her pro active kindness, one day arriving later than normal at the Executive Lounge, she had put aside a plate of sweets and macaroons for me!
 What makes the workers at MM so friendly? It might lie up in the administration who send directives .. a new friend from SL
 A lovely room
visits to the Executive Lounge for a middle eastern repas or smoked salmon

 food at nepali restaurant, Gorakha

 nepali food at Gorakha

 My room, very comfortable
 driving through the now familiar scenery
 Al Mourjan Lounge at Hamad International, one of the best business class lounges in the world in one of the best airports in the world 


 Executive Lounge 
 nepali restaurant gorakha


 A new friend from Boracay
 The friendly efficient Miss H
 Executive Lounge
 Momo at Gorakha nepali resto 


 Mingalarbar to a new face..
before boarding QR flight to Paris 



 nepali restaurant

 the beautiful new Museum, worth a few hours of your time..


 courtesy of Miss H


 a pearl crusted head dress for the RANA king of Nepal at the Museum




 nice to say hello to an old friend 


 An old friend from Sri Lanka ..I have known him ever since I started flying QR



Once again I thank Miss H and staff at the Executive Lounge who made my stay extraordinarily welcoming and pleasant.
The other staff at the hotel, especially my friend from Vietnam and friends from Nepal. also Mr R at the front desk

Have a lovely 2020, may the desert winds bring back again in your direction very soon!

SIX DAYS IN SIEM REAP THE COLLECTOR OF STORIES

I enjoy my visits to Siem Reap. Long gone are the days of looking at the archeological ruins which i have visited numerous times. This year 2019 I think I was there at least 4 times..During the last visit 
these would be titles of stories I can write about and have collected:

An artist with a penchant for pessimism

A Muslim merchant woman exercising for the sake of her health

A visitor from Vietnam 

A young fruit vendor with a fever

New friends and many old friends: Rithy, Nai, Yan, Chhaya, Neath

The generous fruit lady of Siem Reap

A very simple life
Hotel: Beyond Yangon run by Ko Maung Maung
Resto: Pou
           Molop Damnak
Massage: Gekko
Night Market: Zyty's store

Just the ambiance of the city. 

No talk of Temples, Museums or artisans, throngs of tourists easily ignored
None of which mattered
A lovely stay in Siem Reap, yet another time.

My American Indian colleague and her husband (both nurse educators) want to bring their son to show Cambodia, they came with me once on a visit, in 2016. 


 she wants to be a doctor. after school she helps her mother with her fruit stand near the river
 She works at POU and learning English to improve her job opportunities
 University students working at the Organic Restaurant Mollop Damnak 
 Children of the owners of Beyond Yangon 

 Anya from Gekko Massage 

 The children of the lady who works at the Laundry always greet me warmly
 Nai would really like to study Nursing 
 CHE at the fruitstand ..
 Blue skies and the sun has recently set
 Yet another aspiring student, Yan

 The most generous fruit seller of Siem Reap 
 Zyty's shop in the Night Market 
 Good friend Stef, the artist 
 Ko Maung Maung alway reserves the best room in his boutique hotel Beyond Yangon for me

 Siem Reap is becoming a FOODIE destination 
 Make time for a haircut at NZ Haircutters in Kendal Village

 trying to teach them how to make Pina Colada 




















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