Stuck in the Dessert

Yesterday, we went to the dessert. The plan was to go all the way down to the Inland Sea which is about an hours driver after you leave proper roads. However, our journey ended about 5 minutes into the dessert......car stuck in sand and water and no-one in sight.

Luckily, another car arrived - huge car and friendly driver so he and Stuart spent approx. one hour trying to get the car out. One snapped rope and MANY tries later they succeeded. Need I mention we decided to stay where we were and enjoyed the beach and the sea instead of continuing?

Water was an unreal 30C/85F....not even refreshing until you went out quite a bit but still very nice!

Got stuck again 3 times on the way back although not nearly as bad as the first time. Next time we go to the dessert I may have to stick to riding the camels!

Amazing photo opportunities as well:

Two models in the house

This week was crazy busy with the annual fashion show at VCU which is one of the big events in Doha and the biggest fashion show for sure around here. Because I work there - and of course because the kids are gorgeous - Madeleine and Mathias were among the children who were modelling some of the outfits.

None of them were shy - in fact they both enjoyed it and walked down the runway with big smiles and even managed a very professional pose at the end of the runway before turning around.....two new stars are born!

Oh - and of course we also squeezed in a visit to the Souk....once again the coloured bunnies were a hit but otherwise we enjoyed a nice evening with Nana and Uncle Mike! We'll be meeting them in Dubai tomorrow.....

Visit to a Mosque....

Yesterday, we visited a beautiful Mosque....well, beautiful on the inside if you're lucky enough to be male and can enter the male area which is richly decorated and very spaceous. If you're female you pray in a relatively small area without any significant decorations. Luckily on this tour we were all allowed in the male area and were also allowed to take pictures.

We learned some very interesting things about Islam and the call for prayer ( which we listen to 5 times every day!) was translated to us as well. At one point the praying routine was demonstrated - Victoria chose to make a complete and perfect imitation of the ritual including the "humming".......we all cracked up laughing when she did it.

Later, the men in the group were invited to try to copy the praying routine....again a Taylor kid stood up to the challenge - this time Mathias who followed suit except for at the end when he didn't quite face Mekka......Later, when we were walking around in the room Mathias tried to jump over the small stand holding the Koran.....not so popular with the Imam so at this point after 1 hour of being quite good we chose to go outside:) Did I mention we were the only ones with children on the tour?

Let me conclude by admitting that we now have proof that an abaya does NOT suit me! Apart from the robe being really warm the scarf kept sliding down.....needless to say I LOVE my "regular" wardrobe right now!

Next weekend we'll be visiting Dubai - land of extremes! Can't wait to post from there:)