Ramadan Kareem (Kareem means generous - one of the characteristics Mohammed is credited with) is the subject of exactly 23 emails I received the last days on my QF mail account - all of them from different authorities or departments wishing me that Allah would accept my fasting, prayers and good deeds. These three things describe pretty much what Muslims are supposed to do during the "holy month of Ramadan" (as it is always referred here), each on compulsory times of day. This may be amongst others 3 o'clock in the night, so it is especially hard for them considering they have to refrain from all the basic needs like eating, drinking and sexual intimacy between sunrise and sunset. At least sex is seemed as "basic need", which makes the Islam in this kind more modern than many other world religions. I don't want to give an opinion about this religion at this point - there are multiple aspects I changed my mind about, mostly in a positive manner. But generally spoken, it is very terrifying in which unidirectional and sometimes simply wrong way western media presents it. Anyway, lets go on to some less serious matters.
In Ramadan, a lot of things are different here. Official working hours are reduced by few hours. There are even more guys on television reciting Quran phrases the whole day long then usual.
(btw these pictures also contain a Qatarian 100 Rials bill which has a little window in the middle)
Even if you are not a Muslim, you are not allowed to drink or eat outside. Rex, the nice Philippine guy normally bringing us coffee and tea to our desks, serves us only in the cafeteria so we would not remember the fasting people on eating and drinking. Just taking a walk because we feel like it became suspicious more frequent under non-Muslims in the office. However, you can always rely on Rex:
I have some more pictures from the compound I live in sunset light.
Finally, some colleagues and I went Dune Bashing today! That means get driven around by some skilled driver with a jeep through the dunes of the sand desert. I think being in the desert and riding a camel (!!) raises me up at least to arab level 2 (better camel pictures were taken with another camera and will follow up soon).
These camels are very comfortable and have a chilled and smooth walk. Sitting on them for hours should not be such a big problem for me and I definitely want to take a longer trip someday. My camel didn't smell so badly, but it apparently depends on the camel (my colleague had a harder time at the top).
The last three pictures give you an idea what crazy moves the driver performed. These are the few pictures which are not blurred.
The sunset in the desert was amazing, barely to be captured by photos. I tried it anyway.
In Ramadan, a lot of things are different here. Official working hours are reduced by few hours. There are even more guys on television reciting Quran phrases the whole day long then usual.
(btw these pictures also contain a Qatarian 100 Rials bill which has a little window in the middle)
Even if you are not a Muslim, you are not allowed to drink or eat outside. Rex, the nice Philippine guy normally bringing us coffee and tea to our desks, serves us only in the cafeteria so we would not remember the fasting people on eating and drinking. Just taking a walk because we feel like it became suspicious more frequent under non-Muslims in the office. However, you can always rely on Rex:
Finally, some colleagues and I went Dune Bashing today! That means get driven around by some skilled driver with a jeep through the dunes of the sand desert. I think being in the desert and riding a camel (!!) raises me up at least to arab level 2 (better camel pictures were taken with another camera and will follow up soon).
The sunset in the desert was amazing, barely to be captured by photos. I tried it anyway.
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen