Jan 17 - stop and go

We were into Doha on sched and back through bag scan, found our hotel. It's an oasis in the desert.

This is one big airport with an amazing array of exotic destinations worldwide was well as from Lawrence of Arabia. With no curfew, flights come and go all night long. The central area of the terminal has a huge number of duty free shops all open 24/7. When I say duty free, I'm not referring to the traditional, rather there are specialty shops - Tag and Rolex watches, fur coats - this is like an outlet mall for the very rich.

Food is quite another thing. We didn't find much other than a food court and cafeteria. It seems like the very rich don't eat with us plebes.

Traditional Arab dress is everywhere and veiled women. It's a male centric society; men's quiet room, yes; women's, no, just family room.

Perhaps next time, if that happens, we will take a desert jeep tour. Keep holding your breath !

Landed at 5; eating dinner an hour or so later; in our hotel room and asleep by 9pm ... or is that 1pm EST ? My body is truly confused. I was awake at 2 and wandering in the terminal, found a good restaurant for breakfast and then was back in the hotel room for an hour sleep before the alarm awakened me. We had a good breakfast - eggs Benedict for Sandy and omelette for me. Not long afterwards we were mid flight having a hot meal, better than the one that we'd had on the flight to Doha. C'est la vie.

It's 10:10 am now and we are due into JRO after 2 sometime. With good luck our luggage will be there too and we will be off to the Kibo Palace, our hotel. Transfers are covered by our package.

Perhaps by tomorrow this time zone will start to feel normal but probably not.

Upward !


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