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PatGund
Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 17
Location: Doha, Qatar
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 Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:21 pm Post subject: Questions from Newbie.... |
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I've been in country starting on five weeks now, and just starting to settle in. I'm here alone, with my almost 4 year old daughter living with her mother back in the US. Working IT for Weill Cornell Medical College on a 1-3 year contract. So bored single IT geek male. 
Two quick questions.
1) Being painfully ignorant of satellite TV systems, I have no idea where to go to get a "unlock card" to get channels like Discovery, Cartoon Network, BBC Prime, etc. The sat system in my apartment, (I'm in transitional housing right now until the new apartment is ready and Q-Tel finally installs ASDL and the phone lines), picks up Hotbird and Nilesat, but there's only a couple of English-language channels broadcasting for free, and my French is too rusty to pay much attention to the French-language channels. I was told it needs an "unlock card" you slip in the front, but I have no idea where to get one or what they run.
2) What is there to do on weekends, socially? I've been spending weekends exploring and discovering the souks, but I'd like more social contact, and I have NO idea where to go or what's available. (and I don't have my RP or passport back yet, so going out of country isn't doable yet.)
Any suggestions? |
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Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: Questions from Newbie.... |
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| PatGund wrote: |
2) What is there to do on weekends, socially? |
What do you WANT to do? Camp, swim, sail, ride a motorcycle, ride a horse... Shop... Drink...
Pick up a copy of TimeOut and read their reviews of night spots and other activities.
If you're at CWMC-Q you've likely seen the QF PAL list, which has announcements about social clubs and such... Saw one for the Doha Players today... Also saw an invitation to join a half-marathon training club...
Ask your colleagues to help you hook into the social circuit. |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Join the Rugby club, they always know what's going on |
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QatarChic
Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 445
Location: Qatar
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:31 am Post subject: |
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For satellite related stuff go dwn to Mergab Street and there will be several shops there specialising in this- don't wory about the costs as you can compare, and they are all roughly the same......
For your social life- like Bundair Dundat said, its a case of what you want to do ....check out Qatar Happening magazine for more info, rugby club is also good, word of mouth etc.... |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:41 am Post subject: |
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During Ramadan, the only place that is open to get a beer is the Rugby Club, so join quick.
Oh just remembered the Dive club on Tuesdays is also open, no need to join that just turn up. |
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xtian001
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| QatarChic wrote: |
For satellite related stuff go dwn to Mergab Street and there will be several shops there specialising in this- don't wory about the costs as you can compare, and they are all roughly the same......
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Where is the Mergab Street?
Would you also find shops selling computers here?
XXX |
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xtian001
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:07 am Post subject: Re: Questions from Newbie.... |
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| PatGund wrote: |
1) Being painfully ignorant of satellite TV systems, I have no idea where to go to get a "unlock card" to get channels like Discovery, Cartoon Network, BBC Prime, etc. The sat system in my apartment, (I'm in transitional housing right now until the new apartment is ready and Q-Tel finally installs ASDL and the phone lines), picks up Hotbird and Nilesat, but there's only a couple of English-language channels broadcasting for free, and my French is too rusty to pay much attention to the French-language channels. I was told it needs an "unlock card" you slip in the front, but I have no idea where to get one or what they run.
Any suggestions? |
By the way, you can opt to buy a DigitALL world SFT190 receiver (roughly 300QR) which can open BBC Prime, CNN, Multivision (movies), EuroSports, BBCWorld, and other French Channels (SF1, SF2, TSI 1, TSI 2, TSR1) which show english movies and TV series (currently showing Smallville, Desperate Housewives, LOST, CSI miami, CSI New York, CSI Las Vegas, Gilmore Girls, Tru Calling,etc..). You just have to select the proper Audio thru the receiver remote.
Heck, you can even have those XXX channels for free.. playboy, Spice Platinum (24 hours), multivision shows them after 1 AM...
XXX |
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QatarChic
Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 445
Location: Qatar
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:03 am Post subject: |
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| xtian001 wrote: |
| QatarChic wrote: |
For satellite related stuff go dwn to Mergab Street and there will be several shops there specialising in this- don't wory about the costs as you can compare, and they are all roughly the same......
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Where is the Mergab Street?
Would you also find shops selling computers here?
XXX |
I am hopeless at giving directions  but as I always travel by taxi I am ok....it's the street where that famous Turkey Central Restaurant is- the one with the great shish tawook sandwiches  .....close to Al Sadd Street...as for PCs well I haven't seen any shops that sell them, maybe someone else has?  |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:11 am Post subject: |
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| ^ but the Iskender kebab sucks. For computers i was very happy with the big book shop. I forget its name, Al Jarir? Also the shopping centre next to the Sofitel is good for computer stuff. |
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Bindair Dundat
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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| xtian001 wrote: |
Where is the Mergab Street? |
In Al Saad. There's a Hardees on the corner, and Doha Clinic Hospital is on Mergab.
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Would you also find shops selling computers here?
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Maybe, but I'd look around the Grand Hamad / Salwa St. area first. There are tons of computer shops there.
BTW, if you don't have a map yet, I suggest that you get one. Otherwise you'll go nuts with people telling you to go to this roundabout and that roundabout... |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Is there another country in the world that uses roundabouts for points of reference for directions?
what's your favourite roundabout?
Mine was always the Parachute roundabout, as it meant I was on the way to Booze souq  |
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PatGund
Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 17
Location: Doha, Qatar
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: Questions from Newbie.... |
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By the way, you can opt to buy a DigitALL world SFT190 receiver (roughly 300QR) which can open BBC Prime, CNN, Multivision (movies), EuroSports, BBCWorld, and other French Channels (SF1, SF2, TSI 1, TSI 2, TSR1) which show english movies and TV series (currently showing Smallville, Desperate Housewives, LOST, CSI miami, CSI New York, CSI Las Vegas, Gilmore Girls, Tru Calling,etc..). You just have to select the proper Audio thru the receiver remote.
Heck, you can even have those XXX channels for free.. playboy, Spice Platinum (24 hours), multivision shows them after 1 AM...
XXX[/quote]
(chuckle) I'll settle for the other channels - I'm not *quite* desperate enough to need the XXX channels yet. Yet.
I take it I can find this model on the street mentioned above? And are the channels on HotBird? (since it's a fixed satellte that feeds the entire complex, rather than one I can control.) |
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QatarChic
Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 445
Location: Qatar
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| I bought my laptop from carrefour- far cheaper than Jarir.... |
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xtian001
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:28 am Post subject: Re: Questions from Newbie.... |
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| PatGund wrote: |
(chuckle) I'll settle for the other channels - I'm not *quite* desperate enough to need the XXX channels yet. Yet.
I take it I can find this model on the street mentioned above? And are the channels on HotBird? (since it's a fixed satellte that feeds the entire complex, rather than one I can control.) |
Yup... they're on Hotbird... just ask for a satellite receiver inwhich you can input the codes through the remote so you won't have to buy a one which needs a card. Unless you're planning to subscribe to Showtime/Art in the future. Orbit provides you with their own receiver/decoder as no other (i think) receiver can decode their stuff... |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:42 am Post subject: |
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Jeddah has the roundabouts to remember. Lots of them. Hundreds ! The Aeroplane Roundabout, The Hand Roundabout, The Bicycle Roundavout, The Compasses, The Fallopian Tubes ( well that last one was supposed to be something else.)
You can even buy a coffee table book "The Roundabouts of Jeddah")
I jest not ! |
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