An advantage of traveling solo is that you meet so many interesting people from different backgrounds. I chatted with hotel and restaurant staffs, some local, some not and they all have different things to tell me. About their home country and what they feel about Doha. I also met a pair of friends from US at a restaurant. They were seating next to me and we struck up a conversation. They were really funny and we shared our love for food.

Every place that I go, I will learn something new. Experiencing people’s culture, life and seeing new things open up our minds. Only if you experience things yourself, you’ll realise how narrow minded we can be sometimes. Just because we have never seen or heard of something, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exists or we should be afraid of it. You’ll be surprise how much people will open up to you if you have an open mind and try not to make prior assumptions! Go with the flow and you may be in for a surpise.

The spiral mosque

The famous Souq Wakif

1 of the alley @ Souq Wakif

Souq Wakif @ night

Museum of Islamic Art

Inside the Museum of Islamic Art

Doha’s largest mall, Villagio

Starbucks & McD in Arabic

From left to right: Local yellow rice with meat, kebab and meat skewers, camel meat stew with bread

My hotel room is so HUGE!!!

(Photos taken with Canon 550D & S90)

It is amazing how technology managed to change our lives and now even change the way we travel. Heck, I am blogging at the airport lounge now waiting for my flight to Doha at 1.30am!

Anyway, have been looking forward to the trip. Part work and part holiday. Can’t wait to try some exotic camel meat or local dishes and take some middle eastern photos.

Although still quite painful, but at least I can sit better now. I miss doing simple things like bending down to pick up things as I can’t even bend right now! Really have to admit I am no longer as young as I used to be. Hope I can recover fast…

Had foochow noodles with my family after seeing the doc.

(Photo taken with iPhone)

Also found time to watch Salt. Angelina Jolie kicks ass but she really does look like a superwoman! She was kicked, punched, thrown around, got shot, etc but still manage to look good and cool throughout. Haha….amazing… The plot is not new. Actually, it reminds me of another movie but I can’t think of the name right now. Anyway, luckily the producers casted Angie instead of Tom Cruise who was 1st approached for it. I think this movie suits Angie better. If it was Tom Cruise, it would have been so boring. Tom Cruise in another spy/cop movie. I liked him in Knight & Day more. Such a super funny movie! Actually, now that I mentioned it, Knight & Day is better than Salt. Salt is just an OK, average movie. Oh well, better luck next time Angie!

I was reading the newspaper on my favourite species of durian, the “cat mountain king” and was craving for it so went to my usual durian stall to get some. However, they ran out of “cat mountain king” !!! But the owner was nice enough to recommend me another type (forgot the name), so I got that instead. It is actually quite yummy and although still quite expensive but not as expensive as “cat mountain king”. Not bad….but I still prefer my “cat mountain king”

Durian!

(Photo taken with iPhone)

The power of the internet! I was reading so many theories and discussions on the movie but a lot of them don’t sound too logical to me. However, I finally found one which actually makes sense! This website discussion is dedicated to explaning most of the confusing parts of the movie and also the ending! Now I can finally sleep in peace. Gosh…there is actually no “real” answer to the ending because I think the director purposedly made it this way. So everyone is free to interpret their own versions. The explanation in the website above makes the best sense to me.

I think the director did a good job in trying to “confuse” us all or perhaps I should say make us think. Not a lot of movies makes us think nowadays. This one is surely something you’ll be talking about for a very long time. It is indeed a classic great movie. Christopher Nolan is now officially my 2nd favourite director! I was already full of praises for his Batman movie but this one. Gosh…a genius!

So the lesson is, I really should not watch such a thought-provoking movie during a working weekday next time!

Anyway, the surprise of the movie was not the jokes or the storyline. It was Fiona Sit! Although just a side character, playing Wong’s love interest but I find her acting really really good. In fact, I felt she performed the best in the movie! I think she should do more movies as she is really talented. Her portrayal of a crazy girlfriend is just perfect! I was very impressed. I was even more impressed that she is able to kiss Wong Cho-Lam so passionately! hahaha….

Next movie….Inception!

Fiona Sit & Wong Cho-Lam in La Comedie Humaine

Actually, it was not difficult at all. You just need initiative. In fact anyone can do it. Everything needs a goal and if you have a goal in mind, you’ll find ways to get there. Just like my simple act. I was touched by a newspaper story and initially just thought of donating some food items to the family myself. Then I thought of inviting some of my friends to see if they are interested to donate anything. That was basically it. What started as a small act ended being such a “big” thing (the power of media). Now it seems everyone wanted to help and play a part in it.

If you think about it, there are so many of such instances out there. So many children, families and people that need help. You just need to be more aware of your surroundings. It is not like the family that we helped was unknown. It was published in the newspaper! Just that I happen to make a decision to act. This proves that most of us just don’t really care. We read about the news, feel bad for the people who are less fortunate and forget about it. I am guilty as well as I am also human. Hence, I understand why some of my friends say they feel guilty. They know of such problems, they didn’t do anything about it. In fact, they should not feel guilty. It is better to realise now that we didn’t do enough and do something about it then to only regret later on our deathbeds. I am not an angel like what the newspaper said. The real angels and heroes are the volunteers and people who sacrifice their time and money in helping the needy day in and day out. Those are the real angels and I am no one compared to them. I just acted on impulse.

Life is a learning process. It is funny how I have changed as well. I never thought I would have done such things a few years ago. It was all about me, myself and I back then. It is as if I wake up one morning and decided that I need to make a difference. Haha…I’m not a superhero and I can’t help everyone but if it is something within my reach and something that I am capable of doing/helping, why think about it? Just do it. You never know where it will take you.

This has been a humbling experience and I feel I can do more. So, will start looking for the next project! Also, have to thank god for all the blessings, health, power and energy!