On my way to Bali, I flew Qatar Airways and after an eight hour
layover in Doha, I still don't regret it. The plane offered comfortable seats
with lots of leg room and the food was great. My seatmate was a man who lives
in Nigeria and travels once a
year to visit family in the USA. His name is Larry and he took a frog magnet
home.
The airport in Doha is a really slick
affair with a strong resemblance to a shopping mall. I couldn't believe all the
perfume displays. A man I dared to approach in the gift shop was wearing the
white robes and headgear that I associate with the movie "Lawrence Of
Arabia". I approached him, told him of my project and he agreed to take
one to his home in Saudi Arabia. The terminal was full of brown skinned people,
many in ethnic dress. I found it to be interesting and fascinating.
I presented a magnet without explanation
to the girl in charge of the women's restrooms which were never without long
lines. She was in the foot washing part of the mosque unpacking boxes and I
confess I sneaked a peek into the prayer room while presenting my little gift.
Mark one up for Qatar.
I struck up a conversation with a lady from the Philippines. She told me about living on the island Bacolod which
is a major sugar cane producer. She also told me of the island with underground
caves and waterways, another with seven waterfalls, and another with lava beds
and hot springs, all of them big tourist attractions. Her name is Gilda and we
did the usual maternal photo sharing of children and grandchildren while waiting for our flights.
I approached a woman in a red headscarf who said, yes, she lived
in Abu Dhabi and she
took a magnet. I've been trying to get one there for years.
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