Qatari government has decided from this year that second tuesdays in February to be National Sports Day, and it is a public holiday. There goes, while the world celebrated 14 February 2012 as Valentine Day, Qatar celebrated it as National Sports Day. Many events were conducted in Doha, and I joined one of the event QNB Mini Marathon in Aspire Park. It was a 3kms running, with the first price of QAR 20,000, the second QAR 15,000, the third QAR 10,000, 4th-20th QAR 2,000 for each category (5 categories: male, female, male under 18, female under 18, and handicapped.
As expected in many events held in Qatar, it was a mess event, though I enjoyed the running in the park, here are the list of mess:
1. They said that we had to register online to participate, but on the day, everybody could register on the day, that made such a large number of participants. Many passers-by just participated in-situ. I saw people wearing sandals running in the course with me. People with botton shirt and normal trousers. Even some people were bare feet (some might be in purpose).
2. The course were lined only by one line plastic baricades, but due to the large number of runner, and the runner bad manners, the baricades were damaged in many locations, and many bad morale runners just run short-cutting the course!
3. When we reached the final, we were supposed to get a number, might be used to be exchanged with certificate and souvenirs, but when I reached the final, the crowd was like attacking the guy who were supposed to hand-out the number, who was saying to the crowd that the number was "khalas". Then disappointed and desperate people attacking the tent where the certificates and souvenirs were supposed to be handed-over, and they took by themselves souvenirs and certificates like a riot. I saw many tried to grab as many QNB polo shirts as they could from the tent.
Whatever, Jay and I left the park and went to Villagio to have lunch. Jay chose TGI Friday and we ate Cajun Sause meal, which was terrible. The steak was hard chewed, the salad was too little. Their service was good, but the food was terrible!
I wanted to see Murakami exhibition, but since we were too tired, I just went to Rachid's place to have shower and took a rest.
With Miss YK and Miss KS, we decided to have dinner at supposedly newly open Japanese restaurant in Pearl Qatar, named Midori. But when we arrived there it was closed. Later, according to Natto Tsushin, it said that the gas was not ready. Since our Mexican fellow wanted to eat sushi, we went to Lwazar in Katara. I can say that their sushi was the best in Doha!
Another nice surprise to end the day, Miss KS gave Rachid and me Valentine chocolates! (as it is tradition in Japan for girls to give boys chocolates on Valentine Days, with the hope that the boys will give them back on White Days).
As expected in many events held in Qatar, it was a mess event, though I enjoyed the running in the park, here are the list of mess:
1. They said that we had to register online to participate, but on the day, everybody could register on the day, that made such a large number of participants. Many passers-by just participated in-situ. I saw people wearing sandals running in the course with me. People with botton shirt and normal trousers. Even some people were bare feet (some might be in purpose).
2. The course were lined only by one line plastic baricades, but due to the large number of runner, and the runner bad manners, the baricades were damaged in many locations, and many bad morale runners just run short-cutting the course!
3. When we reached the final, we were supposed to get a number, might be used to be exchanged with certificate and souvenirs, but when I reached the final, the crowd was like attacking the guy who were supposed to hand-out the number, who was saying to the crowd that the number was "khalas". Then disappointed and desperate people attacking the tent where the certificates and souvenirs were supposed to be handed-over, and they took by themselves souvenirs and certificates like a riot. I saw many tried to grab as many QNB polo shirts as they could from the tent.
Whatever, Jay and I left the park and went to Villagio to have lunch. Jay chose TGI Friday and we ate Cajun Sause meal, which was terrible. The steak was hard chewed, the salad was too little. Their service was good, but the food was terrible!
I wanted to see Murakami exhibition, but since we were too tired, I just went to Rachid's place to have shower and took a rest.
With Miss YK and Miss KS, we decided to have dinner at supposedly newly open Japanese restaurant in Pearl Qatar, named Midori. But when we arrived there it was closed. Later, according to Natto Tsushin, it said that the gas was not ready. Since our Mexican fellow wanted to eat sushi, we went to Lwazar in Katara. I can say that their sushi was the best in Doha!
Another nice surprise to end the day, Miss KS gave Rachid and me Valentine chocolates! (as it is tradition in Japan for girls to give boys chocolates on Valentine Days, with the hope that the boys will give them back on White Days).
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