Buying Things from Japan

Hello,

Please inform if you wanna buy things from Japan.

Either below listed items (previously purchased), or other items.

Arriving time is 15 June 2025.

 

Pilot Frixion Erasable Highlighter QAR 12

Pilot Frixion Erasable Pen QAR 12

 

Alfort Chocolate QAR 12

KitKat QAR 18

UNIQLO Small Shoulder Bag QAR 60

Sanrio CinnamoRoll Plastic Bottle QAR 70

Toner QAR 50

Eye Cream QAR 40

Green Tea Leave QAR 25

Face Soap QAR 20

Soap (3pcs) QAR 20

Visa Application in Qatar

Information on Visa Application in Qatar
My nationality is Indonesia.

 

Afghanistan
surveyed on 4-May-2025

Website: https://doha.mfa.gov.af/index.php/visa/
The form on the website is outdated, cannot be used. See below Required document section.

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7KxzQV195We4L8aT7
From Katara Metro Station Entrance 1, you can order free Metro Express car from Karwa Taxi app.

Application Time: 08:00-12:00

Required documents:
- Passport and 1 copy
- Copy of QID
- Photo 1
- Form to be filled online and print out: http://econsulate.mfa.gov.af/
- Cash, QAR 475 for urgent base (on the same day, need to submit before 11AM, and will be ready about 12pm) or QAR 295 for normal base (5 days)

 

Algeria
surveyed on 4-May-2025

Website: https://embdoha.mfa.gov.dz/services-for-foreigners/entry-visa-to-algeria-1

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kanUrGLDVp6Pi6oH8
The embassy is inside the Diplomatic Compound (complex of various embassies), entrance location is at this point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QjPPVRTAhNBD5UYr7
After security, you need to show your ID for registration, and take the bus to the related embassy.
Algerian Embassy is located almost the end of the circular route.

Required documents:
- Passport and 1 copy
- Copy of QID
- Photo 1
- Filled form (can be found here: https://www.algerianembassy.co.in/pdf/Visa_application42.pdf )
- Salary Certificate
- Bank Statement for the last 3 months (not mentioned on the website)

The staff mentioned he cannot inform how long it will take, depends on their office in Algeria.

 

Iraq
surveyed on 4-May-2025

Went there but rejected.
Visa application only by online evisa.iq.
Tried online, but couldn't find Tourism purpose.
Based on internet forum info, need to choose Visa On Arrival in the portal.
Followed but Indonesian is not applicable.

 

 

 

The Bagel Bar and Coffee House

Last visit: 2, 3, 9, 10 March 2017
Taste: 4/5
Cost performance: 3/5
Location: The Residence, Sara Tower

Loved this cafe, nice interior and good menu.
Got to know this place since I stay in the tower.

The first time I came, I tried the soup.
Only one soup, i.e. soup of the day.
When I visited on 2 March 2017 (Thursday night), it was leek and potato soup.
I think the taste was OK.

The next day, I came for the breakfast.
I ordered from the breakfast menu, a set of bagel sandwich and Irish Coffee (non-alcohol).
I was happy with this choice.
It was QAR 40.

The following week, on Thursday night, with a friend, I just had a hot Chocolate, which was OK.
QAR 18 for medium size.

The next day, I came again for Friday morning breakfast.
They were nice, not really strictly implementing the Friday prayer time :)
I ordered the new bagel menu called New Yorker, plus an Irish Coffee.
The bagel itself was QAR 35, so it was more expensive than the set, but the New Yorker was yummy.

Will certainly come again when I stay in Sara Tower.

Desert Rose and Zekreet Tour

Joined the tour by 365 Adventure on 24 February 2017, since we were 9 persons, they provided 2 cars.
Though the tour company provided the itinerary as below, we didn't quite follow it.

First, on the way to see the desert rose, we stopped by to an abandoned village in Al Nasraniya.
We saw a camel farm on the way, and asked a photo stop.
Our driver, Saif, also the co-founder of the company, then got lost in finding the desert rose.
Quite a long time we drove around the desert trying to find a way to cross a very long fence.
We made a toilet stop in a camel hospital.
Finally he followed our suggestion to get out first from the gate we entered since it looked like the fences were connected to the gate.
We succeeded to get out from the fenced desert, but it took long time also, since Saif lost the GPS coordinates of the desert rose location.
I almost requested him to give up since we would only waste our time driving around a a huge are in the desert to find desert rose.
However, finally, he found the location of the desert rose.

The desert roses were very small and spread out in a small sandy area in the desert.
But they were uncovered naturally.
I thought we had to dig out to find a desert rose.
After satisfied taking photo with the desert rose, we headed to Zekreet.

The East West / West East monument by Richard Serra, I wanted to visit since long time.
Four 30 meters height steel plates, separate each other about 400 meters in the middle of the desert.

After satisfied taking photos, we found a place to do BBQ, shaded from wind.
Our Japanese friend did an elaborate BBQ for us.
We enjoyed relaxing time, eating BBQ, drinking and chatting on the big carpet brought by the company.

Finally we didn't have time to visit other places and ended the tour with the BBQ. 

Desert Roses Tour:

Inclusions:

    8 hours excursion
    Desert Rose scouting excursion - 2 hours
    Zekreet city stop-over including visit to Richard Sierra's art pieces and Film City
    Stop-over at Zekreet Beach or Rocks for BBQ camping
    Drop-off back to Doha


Price:

    200 QR per person
    Bring your own meat for BBQ

QF Art Trail at Georgetown University in Qatar

A new nice event to see the art works installed in various places in Education City.
Found about it in an article in below link and joined the session on 25 February 2017 to tour the art works inside Georgetown University in Qatar.
http://www.gulf-times.com/story/533514/QF-to-hold-guided-art-tours-in-Education-City
The tour was conducted by the QF curator, Ms. Leila.
Around 20 persons were in the tour.
I enjoyed the tour, giving a chance for public to watch the art works inside the university.

One of my favorite was the stalactites, lots of big stainless steel structure with shape like stalactites, hanging on the high ceiling of atrium (food court). 
The other one was the pot clay huge 3D plate in the Majlis (VIP Room).