Rescued again..

"Road Rage" occurs all over the world. A sad fact of today's society. We just have to learn to keep our cool and be safe..

we were in our car outside the Mcdonalds opposite the Airport when this Qatari comes blazing down the narrow driveway in his landcruiser honking and flashing lights as though hes having a convulsion at the wheels.

Even beefore my husband could move out of his way he jumps out hurls the choicest of abuses in arabic and takes down our car number and tells us in english i will show you who I am... My husband being a cool customer just smiled and told me remember the email about garbage trucks... but I was worried stiff.

While I dont deny Fran Liz kinda Qataris do exist, it is these loud and boistrous, on the face rude and obnoxious qatari with a perennial road rage that does enough damage to the gentle kind deeds of the few hidden qataris.

when you see such rude people around you feel so unwanted and unwelcome.

LOL

Thanks for the clarification... You had me worried for a moment there. I thought you might have Aussie blood in you....

ee, now you went and dunnit, Bleu. Do you have any vegetarian options? Quorn sheep?

We eat them. Make sure you bring a sharp knife.

I hadn't noticed that one.. that's too funny. The possibilities are endless. Next time, I'll also be sure to remember my sheep.

I'm great over here thanks.. loving it now. I'm actually West of you though (I think, although after last weekend, I'm not so sure!!)

elxxxv... I have learned my lesson on that one, and certainly haven't been put off. There's too much to explore! But I will make sure that next time it's with a group.

Qatarblue:

As IF I'd go out in a sandstorm... the weather was beautiful that day and as I've previously stated (if you'd bothered to read the post properly instead of rushing to pontificate) there were many families camping- including Arabs. So get over yourself.

Thanks for all the comments. Like I said, it was an excellent experience on so many different levels. I'm not naiive enough not to know that things could have been very different. But they weren't and there were valuable lessons learned.

And I'm still looking for Nasser and Abdul Rahman. I'm still hoping they'll turn up to one of my after school English classes!

You are a white female! wonder if they would have spent the same time with a maid from indonesia!

Well done for going out in the desert without checking the weather and for moving during a sandstorm, obviously a well prepared group!

very nice story considering we were also out in the desert last weekend. but we always travel in groups and with ppl with some experience.

i've mentioned somewhere bfr in QL - we need to understand the local psyche so that we can appreciate the diversity and have a more inclusive attitude.

hope this experience would not make you afraid to venture out into the desert again!

interesting story Fran! so how's life threating you up north?

Nobody is only nice or only bad, we can all be both!

We just tend to judge according to the moment we are living!

INTER2006.. You are being a little harsh, my friend, no?,

I brought my children here to have those very same experiences that I had had ten years ago in the UAE. They learned so many positive things that night. .and so did I.

There was no question of my guilt at putting them at risk. There were plenty of people camping along that shoreline that day. I trusted in the fact that a) the car wouldn't break down, b) that as so many others were camping, it would be ok and c) that human nature is ultimately good.

Accidents happen. And I'm damn glad I met the guys that I did and not you.

TallG- what we going to do?! I think Ireland/Wales will be the reckoner.. it was only France and we were looking ok:) Happy St David's Day!

Thanks guys for all the constuctive feedback. I have learned not to venture that far out with just one car- especially if it means potentially having to pack up after dark.

I'm so glad that my post was taken by most in the spirit in which it was written. No matter what other frustrations arise as a result of living in the MIddle East, there are times when you still get blown away by how awesome the Locals are..as Red_Pope pointed out, the desert is their playing field.. and frankly,it sounds good to me.

Everyone involved that night set such an examplary example how good and open people can be and I'm just blown away by it all:)

Noone comes here unless they want to have an adventure, do they? I had the best.. and yes, it could have turned out worse, and I have learned lessons.. but it was priceless and it will stay with me forever.

Oh yeah, and I'm yet to swear at one of them, and it's already Sunday.. there's time.. Just get me in the car on Salwa Road:)

FranElizabeth,

It's a good thing that you went somewhere where people go, going to a deeper part of the desert where nobody goes would have been difficult.

We Qataris always try to go to the desert in packs of 2 or more cars, with at least 2 people per car, just in case something happens and there's nobody else there. We also bring lots of water and food (water first!).

When camping we bring along our tents, a few sheep, lots of rice, water, a generator, TV, DVD, consoles ... and wood.

We would cook our own food, and stay up by the fire, chatting for long hours.

It's a great experience that many would enjoy.

Not that old chestnut again;)

I think I'd should've waded over. At least you'd have had beer:)

Guys I think it's really a question of interpretation...

When the qatari does something that can look crazy from an outsider's point of view I don't think it's because it's rage... I don't see them all angry behind their steering wheel... I think it's truly because they are bored behind the wheel and they just find it lots of fun!

Fran , Thank you for sharing the story..I wish I knew these two guys I would’ve helped you out staying in touch..

Stay positive and you’ll always attract good, positive people into your side.. And for the pessimists, you will only attract people that match your expectations ;-)

[img_assist|nid=7232|title=Dua|desc=Amen :-)|link=none|align=left|width=440|height=56]

have come and pulled yer out :D

---------------------------------------------------------

I think you have me confused with someone who gives a sh1t.

Once I had tyre blow out on Salwa road beyond Al Udeid, and almost all Locals stopped and inquired if I wanted any help.

I have been to MOST of the gulf countries, & am really a fan of this people. Whenever u r in trouble anywhere these Arab people are the first one to come forward for help. Even some days before we friends were in sand dunes, our Pathfinder got stucked, & We were hoping for some type of help, fortunately one arabic Family arrived at the scene, & helped us come out.

Whatever attitude this people have, but if some one needs help, they will be the one who help.

Perhaps you have learned another lesson in that you NEVER venture out ALONE in the desert and that you have a substantial 4 wheel drive vehicle - not a crossover like a Hyundai or the like.

Good to hear that it all ended well though - could have been very different.

"To be or not to be? That is the question"

You know the old Qatari song :

"Well keep a welcome in the sea side

Well keep a welcome in Zikreet

This land you knew will still be singing

We'll haul you out of the sand and on your feet"

LOL. I'll stop by the booth the next time my hubcap's coming off RP. ;)

you could always visit my Confession Booth at least I will try my best to fix that hub cap of yours. Just leave behind those genetlemen creatures.

The problem is I think you’re an overeducated, 27-year-old virgin who holds the hands of superstitious old women and promises them eternity.

Probably not. But it was still very nice of him.

I doubt whether he'd do the same for a man :)

Gypsy said:

He came up to my window and said he was CID, then he bent down....and fixed my hubcap for me, gave me a friendly nod and smile and got back into his car. :P What a genetlemen eh.

I will be real scare, If I had to bent down for any Canadians, specially those that are attracted to GENETLEMEN......genitalmen?

Dammed Canadian Fingers!!

The problem is I think you’re an overeducated, 27-year-old virgin who holds the hands of superstitious old women and promises them eternity.

The other day I was out driving and this Qatari in his land cruiser flagged me down. He looked like he was wearing a uniform of sort so I thought maybe he a police officer so I pulled over. He came up to my window and said he was CID, then he bent down....and fixed my hubcap for me, gave me a friendly nod and smile and got back into his car. :P What a genetlemen eh. :D

Great story. Thanks. It is good to hear about the good deeds of others.

Nice story Fran. Thanks for sharing. It's nice to read some positive stuff for once.

I can't imagine a weekend when Wales lose and you get stuck in the desert. What a nightmare!

P.S. Ignore the likes of INTER.

What an idiotic adventure. And putting innocent kids in danger, no less.

this is the guilt you felt when you were in need?

"I have to say that in my 6 months here, apart from the driving aggression, obviously; I have found them to be amongst- and sometimes preferable, to the most lovely people I have met."

What a load of crap!!! In the six months you've been here when did you realize this are lovely people?

tomorrow when you get back on the road you will be back to tellin' them off, Like justmoi said.

Qataris understand this freaking desert better than the weather man.

They are born here, party here, and the desert is their play ground. But, you my friend is reckless in venturing out to the unknown.

I hope you updated your life insurance. Most Qataris are excellent people willing to give a hand anytime.

In 2007 some French tourist got caught in the quick sand some were in the marshes, probably the same area you were standing, they lost two land cruisers to the ocean tides. 

I hope you have learned anything from this experience.

The problem is I think you’re an overeducated, 27-year-old virgin who holds the hands of superstitious old women and promises them eternity.

Nice Story

Is this true? That's even more cool:) We were laughing because as they we were all trying to understand each other and they were going off in Arabic. It sounded like they were saying 'More Western D"k Heads, shall we just dig a hole and bury them right here?'

And yet, in the next breath, they'd be trying to communicate to us what was so funny.. (Namely the Bedoin (sp?) guy who had also stopped...'Jengle man, jengle man bedrr, beddr, cam mel' .. Purely an awesome experience. I'm sure many people would pay a great deal of money for that!!

Generally speaking, they are the best in the gulf.

Thanks for sharing...

we got stuck and they helped us as well. most qatari are so nice at work as well. i really do like them but they drive like crazy!! but then i do to

Exactly:) Was flipping ace of them though. Just wait til my next trip to Doha and then I'll be back to sounding like I have Turretts syndrome:)

That's not the first time I have experienced such overwhelming kindness. (And had SUCH a good time too..) I think I might live here forever..lol.

Back to work tomorrow though and I'll be reading over this at 11.30 and wondering what I was on:)

Qataris are nice people 'off road'. On the road there will be different stories.

Thanks for that. However, I bet within a few days you will be cursing them again lol