QA: Weekend

Last weekend, my friend who was on business trip to Dvbai and Bahra!n did a stop over in D0ha. It was great to have him back - this only means I got to eat my favourite sambal tumis ikan bilis. Yes... I asked him to cook that for me. We had a great time and since he had been to D0ha for a week last April, there was nothing much to do. See, now you know why D0ha is soooo boring!

I picked him up from the airport after 10pm Thursday night. The QR flight from Bahra!n was delayed for 30 minutes.. exactly the same duration to fly between DOH and BAH. The airport was not crowded and it was full with South Asians waiting for their sponsors to pick them. I was approached by two newly arrived passengers, one from Sudan and another Sri Lanka. Both asking me to make a call to their sponsors. The sponsor for Sudanese seemed to give the wrong number or switched off the phone. Lucky for the Sri Lankan since the sponsor is on the way to pick him up.

Inside the terminal, few more groups waiting to be picked up. The Daew00 seemed to be the most responsible - giving each of the newly arrival with a jacket with the company logo. One person giving a briefing while the other representative is waiting for more arrivals.

Another group - supposed to be working with H!lls & H!ggs (if I am not mistaken), still wandering inside the terminal. No representative from the company was there. Poor them!

Few women, most probably coming to work as maids, sat at one corner. Also waiting to be picked by the agency.

To tell you the truth, for me, this was not a pretty sight. These are humans, just like everyone else. They may be less educated than others, but they also must be treated with respect. Their tickets are arranged by the respective sponsors and they should know when their future workers are arriving. But yet, they still fail to be at the airport on time. Imagine those future workers with limited (probably not at all) English/Arabic wandering in the terminal. I wish I could help them.. [sigh...]

p/s: Yesterday, QR received its first A340-600 (HGW).. the world's longest plane (~75m in length).. and they also mentioned that the dedicated terminal for the First and Business Class passengers will be opened end of October. Hope just in time for my next trip balik Raya - so I can share some photos!!!

~ MT @ Qatar
~~ Sadd, Doha

~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself ~