http://dohanews.co/baby-leopard-attacks-boy-at-circus-outside-of-hyatt-plaza/
The latest story in people getting hurt in Doha because of lack of sufficient for thought. Taking pictures with leopards does sound like a risk, but I don't know what the correct precautions should have been. While in Qatar, labor workers often paid the price of insufficient for thought. Construction workers forced to work in heat that could kill, in conditions they could not control. Often they can't even quit their job and go home because their passports were confiscated by their company or their wages were never paid this they have no funds to return home. The human rights abuses were numerous, but perhaps that subject is for another day. (Though I should mention I was afraid to ever post such a thing while in Qatar for fear my husband and I would be deported)
Do you remeber he thirteen children who died in a fire in the Villagio mall a couple years ago. If only fire codes were enforced more strictly. I am encouraged that it is getting better, but that never should have happened! It still makes me sick! At least an hour after the fire had started people were still leaving. If ant even say evacuating as I picked up a visiting family member from the mall at least an hour later. The family member had looked around for opa while before mosing out. There was NO indication there was any danger. Not even the security that were there rushed people out. People were still being served their meals at resturants as children died trapped in the upstairs nursery. Waiter and waitresses said it was nothing. If I wasn't so furious at the insanity, I would vomit!
More than once I saw children standing in cars. Children and maids crouding a trunk. I will try to find the picture that I took when I counted at least eight children in the trunk in the SUV ahead of me. The law only requires seat belts in the front seat. Car seats are not even required for infants. Do I need to tell you how many fatalities from car accidents there are in Qatar? Who are the childrens advocates? Signs don't work, there needs to be an enforced law!
http://qataraccidents.org/2011/02/09/deaths-and-violations-by-the-number/
From the above Qatari govt website you can see someone is trying at least. But it is hard to go against a cultural trend.
Qatari road rules for the newbie:
1. If a car behind you flashes you with head lights, that means,"this is my lane, I don't care that you are going the speed limit, I want to go faster, and you are in my way. Move."
2. Flashing green trafic light means put on the breaks so that you won't get a fine of well over $1000 for running a red light.
3. Be aggressive enough not to get killed, yet defensive enough not to get killed. Only a mixture will save your life.
4. Middle lane tends to be the safe lane.
5. In a round about, the center most lane has the right of way. As well as whoever has been in the round about the longest.
6. Other drivers are not your friends. The only way to get them to let you in is if you are persistently trying to make eye contact and when they finally cave try to look pitiful and point out the baby in the back seat. On the contrary, never let someone in.
7. Learn the roads, back streets will help you get places faster than the main ones some times.
Oh Qatar. I made the best friends I ever have made in my life in your country, but there were times when you made me cry.
Expat women, what was the best and worst from the country you left? Tell me.
With love, me
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