Qatar

(View of Doha, Qatar with Asian Games Torch)

After years of struggling with infrastructure when there was little market for natural gas, building is now seen everywhere in Qatar- especially in Doha. At this point in the development, Qatar seems more interested in balancing construction with (eventual) esthetics than some more rapidly developing areas of the Middle East. In Doha, except for the downtown area, there are few high rises and power lines are for the most part kept under ground. However, construction is widespread and different roads are likely to be blocked and detoured from week to week. On the whole Qatar still seems to be keeping a more quiet profile in the midst of growth than some surrounding countries. Time will tell how the country evolves with the huge influx of LNG revenues predicted to be coming down the pipeline (no pun intended).




Hotel Notes: The Moevenpick hotel has an interesting system for their internet. You have to go down to the front desk and buy a card that has a scratch-off that reveals a PIN number you enter on your computer log-in screen to get wireless access. They sell them in 30 min, 60 min and 24 hr denominations. It is a paper card that comes in a cello pack. The cello packs are all joined and they tear on pack with your card off when you buy it. The time starts from when first log on so you can't just buy a 24 hr one and use it all week - 2 or 3 hours at a time. Same price as the Sheraton. The Sheraton is about 10 minutes closer to the site and nicer but Moevenpick has a better room service menu. (View of Sheraton Lobby.)