Brit new to Doha needs the lowdown on life out here

For calls to london - use skype - its 0.02 USD per min + a 0.29 initial cost. However u'd need to have a computer inorder to download the software and a credit card for the online payment. But its all worth it.

For a great club/watering hole - i'd suggest Paloma's at the intercon - great music and not too much smoke.

Have fun

So this forum is about Cars, buses, routes and labors.

Did somebody forgot to say:

"Your forum got Hijack by the commons"

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Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

These days I am using www.lowratevoip.com to call uk,

US and canada. Sound quality is good and best of all its free for land lines. To call home (pakistan) I use skype as lowrate sound quality is not that good for some reason.

Weekend places for me are either desert or the beach.

Good on you for using the bus, just goes to show - you can take a girl out of East London.....

Bus scehdules and routes are available i believe on the website...search google for " karwa" or "Mowasalat"

heck if i remeber which one!:)

http://hasous.spaces.live.com

"missiles, warships and nuclear weapons cannot establish security. Instead they destroy what peace and security build." Anwar Sadat

yv2r

After every ones advise and your own personal experience on a bus ride,intially there will be all hungry,greedy,lusty EYES around,when u notice some staring at you give a direct look and ask what happened u r staring and as greek sugested raise little voice situation will be different.

I went for shopping on a friday in Souq area in the evening,one person was hanging around in the Lingerine section and trying to pose as if he is a sales guy of the shop on first floor where only one sales person was there.

I had a suspicion,immidiately I approached and asked for a particular brand he said check with the other guy,immidiately i raised my voice,other sales person came running,I asked is he your staff and when he said no ,immidiately i caught his collar and asked for his ID card,i took my mobile and said i am calling police ,immidiately he fell down to my feet and started requesting ,I am sorry,sorry,the shop keeper slapped him and took him ,we dont know what happened,in fact my wife was little upset as i raised my voice, i convinced her that i am with you,imagine if only women how these people take advantage.

Calling Cards, if you are close to Sofitel, ground floor in one of the shops they sell 30 rial coupon eqaual to 11 usd,they also give u a cd to install,voice ok

Cheapest straight from a landline I've found is Cheap Calls (0906 1050020) which is 15p/min to both landlines and mobiles. Skype is 20p a min.

You can't call Qatar free through Talk Talk and it doesn't come under the BT reduced price international options either.

Cheapest card I've found is UK Gold which in theory should be about 5p a min but always seems to end up costing more.

Best thing to do is to get person concerned to get a Skype-in number and then it's like calling a UK landline.

(Not that I'm conducting a long distance relationship or anything)

Hey ELG, first of all- Welcome to Qatar!

Damn!! Ronin beat me to all the info i wanted to give!! LOL!

But seriously I wonder why not many people know about/use the maps & timetable on that site...probably bcoz its hardly ever advertised?

Anyways I kinda agree with a lot of things said about travelling on the buses here, esp if u or a woman- no I havent done it, but I think 90% of the time you would get stared at...which IMO happens just about in any public place here...the chances of getting "felt up" are slim, but yeah, i suppose it could happen if u travel alone on a regualr basis...my guess if u do, then u probably are going to have some regular 'busmates' too??

besides i TOTALLY agree with Greeker, do not hesitate to raise your voice against the offender- "the buggers who try to act funny are also the scaredest people on the planet "- SO TRUE!

At the end of the day its all a matter of using ur discretion too- which i gather from your posts you are pretty good at- so I wont say any more ( wow, I have said so much already!)

Anyways as for calling the UK- i agree cheap calling would be some Voip service - try the ones suggested here, but also Do TRY MediaRing Talk- they are also a VOIP service offering Pc to Phone Calls, and they were offering Free calls sometime back- but I am not sure if the offer is still on- you might have to look it up...

Thats it from me...Hope you have a good time!

Hey ELG, first of all- Welcome to Qatar!

Damn!! Ronin beat me to all the info i wanted to give!! LOL!

But seriously I wonder why not many people know about/use the maps & timetable on that site...probably bcoz its hardly ever advertised?

Anyways I kinda agree with a lot of things said about travelling on the buses here, esp if u or a woman- no I havent done it, but I think 90% of the time you would get stared at...which IMO happens just about in any public place here...the chances of getting "felt up" are slim, but yeah, i suppose it could happen if u travel alone on a regualr basis...my guess if u do, then u probably are going to have some regular 'busmates' too??

besides i TOTALLY agree with Greeker, do not hesitate to raise your voice against the offender- "the buggers who try to act funny are also the scaredest people on the planet "- SO TRUE!

At the end of the day its all a matter of using ur discretion too- which i gather from your posts you are pretty good at- so I wont say any more ( wow, I have said so much already!)

Anyways as for calling the UK- i agree cheap calling would be some Voip service - try the ones suggested here, but also Do TRY MediaRing Talk- they are also a VOIP service offering Pc to Phone Calls, and they were offering Free calls sometime back- but I am not sure if the offer is still on- you might have to look it up...

Thats it from me...Hope you have a good time!

reply to your questions:

2- if u have a PC u can buy a pre-paid internet card worth 30 QR only(Z-call) that allows u to call UK or the states for hours.u can get Z-call cards from Al-nijada souq (it's a famus PC minimall near The Souq area).

4- there is a Lady Club Gym in Sports City & another one in Aspire they charge 150 for qatari ladies & 300 for non-Q ladies per month,there are sport instructors who can be with u. I have not join them but my friend did,there's another one called Al-Massa near Ramada signals,but they charge 500QR per month or 50QR daily.

wish u nice stay in Qatar :)

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with travelling by the bus Greeker, if she is travelling with other people. But I don't even recommend single women to get into cabs alone here. The point is, if she is travelling alone all the time, eventually something is going to happen. I speak from experience because I'm always travelling by myself and I've been in some scarey (and slightly humourous) incidents with potential paramours a couple of times. Not everyone can speak up or laugh it off like I do.

[img_assist|nid=13228|title=I feel your scorn and I accept it-Jon Stewart|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=180]

While i agree i have no first hand experience about what you are saying, i still think that you cannot just generalize things like that.

And let me ask you, what stops you from raising your voice against the offender? Why cant they just talk back? From my experience, the buggers who try to act funny are also the scaredest people on the planet. raise your voice for once and maybe give him one resounding slap. That IS IT! Believe me, you will get all the support you need from that point on!

I aint taking on your views for a battle or anything. Just staing some stuff which i have seen and experienced myself. I myself have joined in on acting on what i thought was right.

Sorry Greeker, I've just been here to long. She may ride the bus a dozen times and nothing will happen. But sooner or later someone is going to try something, whether on the bus or follow her off it. This isn't maybe will happen, or might happen, this is a WILL happen. Facts of life for chicks in Doha.

[img_assist|nid=13228|title=I feel your scorn and I accept it-Jon Stewart|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=180]

I forgot to mention there is a new discount book offering buy 1 get 1 free meals etc. all over Doha, its great to use to explore Doha and get good meals etc at low cost, the booklet costs around 125QR but you can save that in your first week. I got mine in Megamart but can't remeber its name......

It even has the "Jocks and the Geordies - Sandwich cellar" the best place for Briitsh meals, but the golf club does the best hangover "all day breakfasts" - 29QR.... sweet.

Most Q's answered. However you can also get the buses to explore Al-Khor and the north Al-Shamal (101-111 i think), although there aint much there and your beeter going with the Natural Histroy Group, bit of an older group but gets you out there and seeing things rather than stuck in Doha.

As a female you will be invited to the numerous balls (St. Andrews, St, Georges ANZAC etc.), dinners, parties and can probalby pick up a free ticket (normally 200-400QR) if you get in the right crowd and another person falls out. We went to a Ceildh last weekend in the Marriot and there were plenty of last minute guests etc.

Sheraton is a great gym at resonable costs for a 5* - 7000QR also Ramada a good choice. Depends on your budget.

At weekends go to the beach, inland sea etc. get to knoe some folks with 4x4 ususally spare seats going. House parties like when you were a student are in strong force here.

Rugby club will become a regular for you as a social venue even if you don't have a clue about the sport. Garveys is a bit more "interesting" and Ridges is good but to small and very busy. There are regular other good nights, e.g., "Jazz" at the Ritz.

One bizzare thing here is that you start hanging out a bit in 5* hotels, Where i grew up the nearest 4* star hotel was 100 miles away so it fells wierd....

Several other tips that my lass passes on - H&M open in Valaggio Mall and Tony and banks in "The Mall" - d-rng near airport.

Please let me know ur cheap ways to call qatar from the UK info ...need it urgently!

ELG, Glad you liked the bus riding experience.

Ronin, you did great. Nobody could have done better.

Gypsy, i always agree with you. But i have to disagree with you on the bus thingie. You got it all wrong there. Maybe we should all go on a mass bus trip on your birthday or something.

All's well that ends well. ELG had her bus ride and everybody lived happily ever after!!!

whenever I've taken the buses the driver always clears out the front seat for me and I've been stared at but never directly harassed.

I would recommend Garvey's and the Rugby Club. pubs with a very pub-like atmosphere and pub-like food. very chill, and I haven't been hit on the way I have at places like Paloma's or Rydges, which despite that are still pretty fun places.

ELG,

It’s very nice of you to share your actual experience and set the record straight.

However, I believe that in all this chit-chat about labourers and sexual harassment, we are neglecting the larger issue here: the average labourer’s continued existence as an eyesore in our society. It is high time we asked ourselves as to how we can uplift their creed and render them our social equals. Broadly, the three aspects about a labourer that act as stumbling blocks to his assimilation into mainstream society are: body odour, cleanliness and sexual frustration.

In my opinion, a committee should be formed with immediate effect to address these issues and emancipate the labourers. Aptly titled the Labourer Emancipation Committee (LEC), it should be their sole mission to transform the barbaric labourers into suave gentlemen. Every member of the LEC should be issued a copy of Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion for inspiration and guidance. LEC vans loaded with scented soap-bars, deodorant canisters, razor blades and hair-gel should go on beats all around the Industrial Area and distribute these “absolute essentials” to the labourers. Every distribution depot should have large LCD screens running educational videos on male grooming. Moreover, labourers should be taught to gel their hair by experienced stylists recruited from Paris. Now that they are sweet smelling and well groomed, the only issue that needs to be addressed is their sexual frustration. This is where LEC should rely on the ancient art of Yoga. Yogic Gurus from Hindoostan should be flown down to the Industrial Area to educate their lesser brethren on the art of self control. The labourers, who successfully comprehend this Yogic discourse, will master the art of arresting sexual desire for a full two years and will live in Qatar for the entire tenure of their contracts with flaccid phalluses. At the end of the Yogic course, the labourers should be tested on their mental strength by making them walk through a long passage lined by scantily clad virgins; anyone displaying the slightest passion should be castrated before being reintroduced to the general populace.

Some of these measures may seem rather Draconian; but, will ensure that Doha takes yet another step towards becoming the paradise of the Middle East. After all, a society where the least common denominator smells good and gels his hair will be the envy of the rest of the world. Also, the buses will once again become accessible for the poor bourgeois!

Peace

Welcome to Doha and congrats on the bus trip! I'm Irish and have been here a year....have yet to work up the courage to take the bus though!

It's refreshing to find someone who isn't afraid to go out alone, etc, but do keep your wits about you. I sometimes walk from my apartment near Al Saad to the likes of Jarir or the Centre and have had to deal with more than staring...twice from a labourer on a building site and thrice from men in dishdash. However, after learning about a recent raping here I sadly won't be venturing out walking alone again. That was the straw that broke the camels back!

Enjoy your time here, go out, take the bus but always be careful and aware of those around you.

Just my opinion and experience, I wish you all the best.

Are you sure it's not your split-personality feeling you up and harassing you constantly?

I think you should tell yourself to keep your hands to yourself.

It you are really planning to use land lines to call out side, I have alternate package which can be used from any land line or mobile using the call back service from London. The cost is only 50% of qtel's cost.

I truly feel compassion for the laborers and have no doubt that they are decent men just trying to earn a living and help out their families back in their home countries. The stares take some getting used to. I see Ronin's point, but it is still unsettling.

Still, I would tell every woman to exercise caution, especially if she is out and about on her own. I was nearly grabbed in the gold souq area this past tuesday - in broad daylight (I was wearing regular clothes, nothing revealing). The man then followed me (at a distance, since I pretty much raced to my car) and start rubbing himself. A while back, I was followed in Souq Waquif. It was this early incident that led me to buy an abaya and I now wear it when I go to the souqs - man, it really makes a difference! No one bothers me at all. Love it!!

Mabruk! (Congratulations in Arabic) ELG! Glad to help you in your bus trip. In the end, it is discretion that tells you what to go for and what not to.

For those who are still hesitant, just try it once and with someone with you, especially if you are a "corpse" (someone has to carry you in and out of the bus to the morgue) ;-) --just kidding ok. No pun intended again....

As with any city, whether it is in UK, Qatar, or say the US, riding a bus is an adventure. Things can or may or may not happen to you... You just have to be alert and careful.

By the way ELG, the reason why there are alot of men today at the bus station is because it is Friday- first day of the weekend. This is the time when all of the men from the Industrial area travel to Doha to get a weekend trip in the city. This is there only time, I suppose, to actually relax and go around town so to speak. And since they hardly earn much, the best they could do is hang around the city and most of the time while their way in the grassy public parks as there are NO GRASS in the areas where they work. Most of the time, these men are under the heat of the sun or in warehouses working their butts off.

Most of them are misunderstood. I guess that's why they are thought to be "desperate" or "out-to-harass-a-woman-when-they're-out" because they work in environments where there is a lack of scenery or the conditions are just "monotonous". Just imagine working in a warehouse or a plant that is in the middle of the desert and no one is there except another dude with a beard and in the same clothes as you are 5 days a week, for a whole year! ... Gives you a familiar scene doesn't it? (i.e., prison)...

What most people in the city forget is that, although these blokes look like staring "Dirty Old Men", they are actually hard working people who just want to have a chance to be able to help their families back in their home countries. With salaries of only QR 500 or even QR 1,000 - They still take the chance and go to work in such horrid conditions because they know that someday, they may be able to get their families out of their poverty state... sounds like a sad story book ey? But its true.

I do agree, though that there those instances where people get harrassed and get mugged or whatever, but this is not only true in Doha, but in other countries as well... name it.. UK, US, etc. You just have to take care of yourself I guess...

Anyway, stay safe and enjoy the bus rides.

Taxis are fun too. If you have a hard time getting one, just call the cab company. The numbers are there in the cab's body.

Let me know if you need company.. My wife is looking around for one as well because I'm at work on weekdays and she prefers not leaving the flat until I arrive.

Cheers..

As I said in topic About bus

When we we're quite new here, there are times we couldn't get a taxi because of Asian games of course! so we took a bus from souq up to Al Jarir, where my husband is waiting to pick us up (because he hates souq, it's always crowded) the bus driver is Filipino and very polite and said "if anybody touches you let me know and I will tell them to go down." surprisingly enough nobody dare to touches me or squeezes me, indeed they avoided me when I was passing by them to get the available seat which is in middle of the bus. The driver told me "in this country the government take it seriously when it comes to woman gets harmed!" so I feel confident! "Al Hamduli'Allah"

not because they are just worker, it doesn't mean they all have the same mentality. some of them values their jobs and the others unfortunately not! If you're a woman enroll for Taekwondo or any self defense, so you know how to defense yourself!

If you worry in every single thing? then it's a big problem!

Just keep dancing baby!

hi all

well i travelled by bus this afternoon - in fact the whole novel experience of bus riding meant i jumped on three and guess what people - i'm still alive and havent been mishandled, groped in any way - the bog eyed staring doesn't bother me - i just stare off into the distance or just bog eye them back

i did of course exercise my discretion and if buses pulled up that were rammed with nothing but blokes - no seats available i didnt get on the bus - the buses that had spaces available were clean, i didnt get harrassed and the bus drivers were uber helpful without being sleazy or the staring

i even went to the bus station walked around a bit and did not get hassled although there were no women in the area - perhaps i was lucky - perhaps all these dudes are all just the bog eye staring type and it never goes further than that - whatever the case was, everyone i spoke to was polite and minus the staring no-one was off or rude to me

Ronin - thanks so much for the info (links, maps, timetables )- you're an absolute star!!! even the gym info is perfect too - those gym location is great as i'm a short walk from the grand regency hotel at the mo

asangab - will definately pick up the map too - thanks for the suggestion

so the moral of the story is - you can ride the bus here (it does get you around town and it is cheap)and survive the experience!

NUFF said :) ELG

i was suppose to say gut not brunnen :P sorry mistake

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easy lady am in primary class of german lang :D

well i just took it like that it looked like a real one but it was a lighter. QL gether at city center bowling and billiard about 14 members were there last night.was really nice meeting them first time with the members.

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nichts mit das pistol :D

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Well i really enjoyed the lil gethering of QL last night at city Center. took my pistol VascoDe Gama pistol :D

was fun just coming from farm house. how is urs going. now thinkng about tomorrow day off. will rush back to farm house. i like to stay there.

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a bus for a lady. Even if you sit in the front behind the driver. For unknown reason you will find all people standing there behind the driver regardless of the empty chairs in the bus.

funny!!

how are u Alexa Corpse :D

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Hi there

I definetely agree with Ronin

I have been here in Doha for about four months now. I've been travelling all over the place by bus.

Let me add one more thing to Ronnin's comments. This is how I learned.

Buy a MARHABA Map of Doha. It's 12 QAR and I bought it from City Center. The map contains the cpmplete road network of Doha and it a complete bus route map including the route numbers. Even now, when ever I want to go somewgere, I just refer tyhe map and decide what bus to take and it has never let me down.

Same as Ronin, I am a Banker myself, and still to buy a vehicle of my own. So my main mode of transport is the Bus. I find it convenient and even cheap.

I'm sure Westerners getting harmed inside the only government authorized taxi company would cause a bad image in Qatar but it happens all the time. No matter what you people say she SHOULD NOT take the bus without someday (preferably male) with her. She's asking for trouble.

[img_assist|nid=13228|title=I feel your scorn and I accept it-Jon Stewart|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=180]

...all the different reactions to a situation. It's really what makes travelling worthwhile.

I've been staying in Doha for about 7 months now with my wife and I take the bus when possible.

First of all, let me tell you the TRUTH about BUSES here:

A. There is only ONE BUS and TAXI COMPANY in Qatar - MOWASALAT - here is the BUS ROUTE LINK: (http://eng.mowasalat.com/mritems/streams/2006/10/15/1_376_1_11.pdf) or try this link also

(http://eng.mowasalat.com/site/topics/static.asp?cu_no=1&template_id=296&parent_id=147)

and THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS FILLED UP WITH ALL MEN WHO TRY "TO FEEL YOU" once you're on board. However, the bus route that is filled with men are Bus routes 32, 32A, 33, 33A and 33B. These buses go to the industrial area and ALL of the passengers there are men and these buses are always FILLED to the BRIM. Don't take these routes as these are specifically going to the labor camps in the Industrial Zone/Area. These buses are the ones that probably give the wrong impression about riding them among western expats.

B. For the sake of dispelling wrong impressions about buses, here are the BUS routes that I think you will like to know and ride:

B.1 - Bus 76 - This bus hardly gets filled up and it is a good ride to one of the bigger malls - City Center Doha (CCD). It only goes to that mall as its final destination. And although, again, it is mostly filled by men, no more than 20 are there and about 3 to 5 women take them whenever I ride in them.

NOTE: ALL BUSES RESERVE THE FIRST 4 ROWS TO FAMILY or WOMEN so feel free to ride behind the bus driver or to the seat immediately beside the front entrance to your left.

B.2 - Bus 49 or 94 - This bus route also HARDLY gets filled up and this will take you around town, to and from the airport. 49 takes you via Hamad Hospital to Airport while 94 does the opposite (hence the 'reversal' of the number 49/94) - takes you to the airport and round back to Hamad Hospital area back to the bus station.

C. ALL BUSES START and END (at least for 76, 49/94, 11, 22, etc) at the GHANIM BUS STATION which is located at Grand Hamad Avenue (Road with Cross Swords and where all banks are at)near all the "Souqs" (traditional Arabian Market) are at. The souq area will be a relatively fun place for you to check out given that there are alot of shops to visit and there are some great bargains to check out. The one beside the Bus Station is the Gold Souq where are loads of gold and jewelry shops.

D. Bus 11 - Takes you to the old airport road in through Lulu Hypermart and perhaps near The Mall (another mall).

E. Bus 22 - takes you around the residential areas in Muntaza (you'll figure where this is at) area and to the Najma Souq where all pre-owned and refurbished household items are sold from AC's to ATV's, sofas, cabinets, beds, etc. Nice bargain items that look brand new and are infact, some being a couple of months old only. IF YOU WANNA GO HERE, BARGAIN AT 50% less of what the price they initially give you. If they say no, just walk away, they'll try to "pull you back" (not in a harsh manner) to "reneg". It's fun actually...

F. I am not from MOWASALAT. I am a Banker with my wife here in Doha. We have had the same "fears" about the place having so many men here who "STARE" at you with their glaring eyes and poker faces BUT REALLY, THAT's AS FAR AS THEY DO, JUST STARE. My wife is still getting used to it but somehow she has learned to live with it.

PUT IT THIS WAY, A WESTERNER GETTING HARMED INSIDE THE BUS OWNED BY THE ONLY BUS COMPANY (i.e. Government) IN QATAR WILL REALLY CREATE A BAD IMAGE FOR QATAR and as such, I don't think any employee or bus driver, let alone the company itself, will allow that to happen.

So enjoy Doha but as always and as with any place or city you are in, always be careful.

IF you want company, my wife is looking for one to shop with her. Just send me a pm if you need help.

For the Gyms, the hotel gyms are fine. There is one near/behind Jharir bookstore on the second floor called Al Masa. Men and women are separated in doing work outs. There is another at the Sehati Hotel a couple of buildings from Grand Regency Hotel near the Sports Round about. Bus 49 can take you there at the Grand Regency. Just ask the staff where Sehati Hotel is, it's a walk.

For night life, it's a big adjustment as good pubs/bars are only those which are in hotels. I heard Rydges is nice but unfortunately, I wasn't allowed in since I wasn't well... "western" looking (NO pun intended) plus I was with my buddy who was from Sri Lanka and probably was mistaken as an "Indian".

That's all I can give you for now since these are all from my experiences. No impressions, no I-heard-from's...

Cheers and Enjoy.

Ronin

Don't use your Hala card, it'll cost about £20 for 5 mins! Skype(as everyone says)is the way to go. You can get a Skype-in number for not very much which means friends back home can call and just pay for a call to a UK landline (i.e. free if from a mobile with free mins).

Should anyone ever want to know, I'm an expert on cheap ways to call Qatar from the UK

VOID is not Illegal, get your facts together dude.....

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

You can use net2phone but make sure to get the software from the dealer/shop and the proper settings (gateway and port)

the age here where u r allowed to drive ??

I no longer live in Doha but here is my take(Your questions do remind me of London where people used to stand with newspaper handing out free copies on the tubes):

1.There is no public transport in Doha FOR YOU. Doha Public bus is not underground or double decker so set aside a fortune for taxis or learn to drive.

2.Officially all VOIP is illegal and you have to find a way to get it from shops. Also all UK numbers are not cheap to call so check for the rates with the particular service like Net to Phone or easy Call.

3.Again no pub round-the-corner stuff. Pubs at 5* hotels filled with desperate men. Descretion advised.

4. Getting a club membership would be a great idea. Recommendations - Either Diplomatic Club or 5* hotel club memberships.

5. Check out the English papers and Advertisings in them of entry tickets. No cultural event is free in Doha until by the government.

thanks for the re-assuring comments - i've always accepted the whole getting lost in a city as part of getting my bearings - the only difference being that i'd rather be lost in a city in an air conditioned bus than walking the streets at midday!

i've never seen a packed bus (probably not up and about early enough to see that happen) and most of the peeps are usually sat down in quite an orderly fashion

is using hala top up phone cards the cheapest way of calling home???? do they not have calling cards over here?

walthamstow - E17 - so technically speaking closest clubs are Spurs or Leyton Orient and ok so its a short bus/train ride away to the Emirates stadium

Hmmm. Strange. What's an East London girl doing with North London clubs?

Really strange comment hey if u r that filthy rich then why the pressure to take the bus .. I hate both their comments...

The buses are far more convenient...

hi KS

muchos gracias for the comments - i figure you dont do buses...

ELG

Hi The planning is not that important how wrong can you go this town is only that big and the conductor/drivers are quite helpful.

A day on the bus and you will know this place

At qr2 a time i say it is worth the money and you see more than with the taxi.( similar to your Hop-on-hop-off buses)

london all the time and i just use my hala top up phone card, which u can get in shops & supermarket.

i agree with gypsy too. better take admission in a driving school and get ur license and buy a car for ur self going through bus around the city thats really a bad idea.

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i JUMPED ON A BUS A WEEK AGO JUST TO SEE WHERE IT WOULD TAKE ME,AND YES, IT IS FULL OF MALE WORKERS...SO WHAT....AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHERE THE BUS IS GOING AND UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN`T AND HAD A BIT OF AN ADVENTURE, BUT THATS FINE!

round our yard WH = no no

the choice is simple

Spurs or Gooners!

VERY STRANGE COMMENT!

EastLondonGirl.

I fully agree with Gypsy recommendations.

If you are willing to wait for a bus for 15 minutes in the heat of about 45 degrees celsius then jump inside a bus loaded with 200 passengers whose capacity is 40 and mostly male workers then you are in.

Wish you a nice stay in Doha

The Hammers, Upton Park.

I've never taken a bus here, but I've noticed that quite a few women take the bus on routes around the Corniche (after work, 5pm). Avoid the buses going to/from the industrial area (via Salwa Rd) as they're always packed with labourers. Taxis are a better alternative to buses (if they're available and if you know where you're going and how to get there)

up the irons - sorry didnt get it - or alternatively using east end speak i'd probably say " you what?? "

Up the Irons!

well you learn sthg new everyday

no worries like - i'm from East London in England - but have lived in quite a few other coutries for work and Uni

I reckon I'll give the bus a go with my cousino today and then I'll do the indiana jones thing and brave it on my own over the next couple of days

laters

ELG

I thought you were from South Africa as we have a city there by the name of East London.

Sure you could find someone to take you around safely on the bus.

Do apologise for the forward gesture.

good luck

thanks for the offer - will shout you the next time i'm off exploring the city

would you happen to know where i can i get bus info from - like route planners and timetables - i have no idea how many buses there are and where they all go to? at the moment todays plan of adventure with my cousino is to jump onto a bus that we think is going to take us to the city centre/west bay/diplo area - but theres alot of guess work involved on our part at the mo.....any ideas???

ELG

you have got that rite

we are dealing with a different culture here and we are the visitors in this land remember.

strange but true

Buses are a good way to see this town as well. I am from South Africa so if you need someone to go with one the bus i would not say no to the company.

I have travelled to the Souq's in the bus and it was OK.

But the offer is out there

Cheers

from what i could see as they whizz past me - that they look kind of ok - like a regular bus with peeps just going about their regular business

the way i figure if you use public transport in any city anywhere in the world you are bound to have at least one of the following travelling with you, a clinically insane indivdiual, someone with a or multiple personal hygiene problem/s, a mass murderer - its just the odds as to whether they choose to sit next to you!

ELG

Hi

I have been in doha for two months and had not experience any hassle on a bus or taxi.

Then again i am a male and not sure if any of the men on the buses would dare exploit women on the bus. never seen it happen in this short period

Yeah Gypsy if u r that filthy rich then dont take the bus routes.. U have to learn to be more amicable and compatible with other people's viewpoints...

ta for the comments and recommendations.

is travelling by bus really that bad out here?? i figured it would be the way most labourers get around but I have noticed a couple of females using them as well -

does anyone else have any experience of bus travel in doha??

ELG

1) Do NOT take the bus. The bus is full of male labourers and if you want to get felt up, then that's where you go.

2)Skype

3)Rydges or garveys since your British. I don't recommend bars as a way of meeting people here though, as they tend to be full of guys just looking to get laid.

4) DOn't know

5) Check out the Social Group, under Groups.

6) Find a copy of Qatar Happening. You can find it at most malls.

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