Travis Hydzik's blog feeds

Qatar Motor Show 2012

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

It was again time for the Qatar Motor Show, which debuted last year, as usual there were top car makers demoing cars only a Sheikh could afford, but new this year was a drift show, a Freestyle Motocross (FMX) show and even a Formula One street demonstration. The week leading up to the Motor Show, [...]

A day at the camel races

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

With my sister visiting us, we decided to once more check out the camel races. Over a year since our last visit, this time it was a lot more organised, plenty of police, an ambulance, more Land Cruisers (four-wheel-drives) and a lot more camels, I think this was also due to a refurbished camel track. [...]

Review of USB Safely Remove ? the device cannot be stopped right now

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

Sick of constantly experiencing the Window’s “The device ‘Generic volume’ cannot be stopped because a program is still accessing it.” message, I decided to give the program USB Safely Remove a test. The first time trying to stop my USB hard-disk-drive I get the following “Could not find any processes locking USB device!”, great, the [...]

How to dye fabric with Procion dye

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

Procion is a brand of reactive dyes, meaning the dye reacts with the cellulose fibres (plant-based fibres including cotton and linen) of fabric. A cellulose fibre will not work on protein fibre (animal-based fibres including silk and wool), it which case Acid Dye will need to be used. I chose Procion over Acid Dye due [...]

Correspondence with Property Manager LJ Hooker Belmont WA ? The Hidden Charges

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

I received an email from the L J Hooker Belmont WA Principal / Licensee when I enquired about the monthly Postage and Petties Fees, here is a list of all the items you are charged separately for (not included in the property management fee); Phone calls to yourself and your tenant and to arrange tradesmen [...]

Doha Zoo

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

We were a little unsure about visiting the local Doha zoo, I had read a few negative reviews that claimed very poor conditions and animals mistreated, but it was new years eve, a three-day long weekend and we didn?t have too much else to do. Entry price was five Qatari Riyal and as usual for [...]

Goodbye, 2011!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

Another year has come and gone and we look back at 2011 with fantastic memories. Our move to the Middle East has given us opportunities to travel to places we had only ever dreamed of visiting! We started 2011 off in Beirut, Lebanon, enjoying the life and culture of this beautiful city. In February we [...]

Mathaf ? Arab Museum of Modern Art ? Cai Guo-Qiang ? Saraab

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

The Christmas long weekend finally gave us a chance to visit Mathaf (?museum? in Arabic), Qatar?s Arab Museum of Modern Art. At the time, Mathaf was showcasing Saraab (?mirage? in Arabic), by Chinese contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang. Guo-Qiang?s work ?homecoming? is visible as you walk through the Mathaf entrance, sixty-two large granite rocks all the [...]

Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque, Qatar State Grand Mosque

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

Mosques, one of the defining components of the Middle East, for every city we have visited, there is at least one ?Grand Mosque?, a big, beautiful, lavish mosque, which tells the city?s story. The Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque or Qatar State Grand Mosque is no different, opened only two weeks ago for Friday prayers, the [...]

Qatar National Day ? the Qatari Celebration

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:34:24 GMT

Qataris (and other supporters from Arab countries) have an interesting way of celebrating the Qatar National Day, held on 18th December every year. Every year around the time of National Day, Qataris will dress up their four-wheel-drives with white and maroon themes of Qatar flags, photos of the Emir and royal family, the Qatar emblem, [...]