30 December 19 - Back to Montreal

This morning I got up at 4am to make it to the airport for a a 8am flight back to Montreal. This is a shot I took from the plane, might be one of the best photos I have ever taken.

My flight was 14 hours long and it gave me time to reflect on the amazing journey I had just been on. It was filled with wondrous cities, temples, beaches, great food and interesting people.

I interacted with monkeys, elephants, falcons, camels, orangutans and the incredible tigers! There has been so many happy memories for me on this trip that this blog could not cover them all but my photos will help me remember all the fascinating days I have lived in the past month.

I took a photo package on the cruise which allowed me all the photo memories I could have and here are my favorites.

Travel may not be everything in life but it does makes everything in life more complete. When you leave your home and experience other cultures, food and environments it expands your horizons 

and I feel it makes you a more interesting person. 

You don't need to travel half way around the world to get the satisfaction of discovery, it can be the city next door or a drive a few miles away. Whatever the mode of transport or the distance, go out and travel, expand your mind and revel in the joy of adventure and it will soothe your soul and make you not only more interesting but it will expand your mind. 

For me there is nothing more exhilarating than the romance and the feeling of wonder when I travel. 

  “TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW YOU WILL BE MORE DISAPPOINTED BY THE THINGS YOU DIDN’T DO THAN BY THE ONES YOU DID DO”

So go out and do it!!!!!!

Until the next adventure!!!!!

29 December 19 - Doha, Qatar

This morning I left Singapore and flew to Qatar. I planned to stay one night in order to break the long flights back to Montreal, plus it gave me a chance to see this country.

Qatar is a peninsular Arab country whose terrain comprises arid desert and a long Persian (Arab) Gulf shoreline of beaches and dunes. Also on the coast is the capital, Doha, known for its futuristic skyscrapers and other ultramodern architecture inspired by ancient Islamic design, such as the limestone Museum of Islamic Art. The museum sits on the city’s Corniche waterfront promenade.

On Qatar airlines they have several cameras on the outside of the plane which permits you to see the landing on your personal monitor at your seat. I took a video of this and it's really fun to see!!!

I found Doha to be a magical place!! I stayed at the Souk Waqif Boutique Hotel Nyad..... it was so beautiful and my room was something out of an Arabian night novel. . . . 

Since I only had one afternoon and evening in Doha I went out immediately to explore the city and the Souk Waqif since the hotel is right in the middle of it. I also took a taxi to see some of the main sights.

I wandered into a falconer establishment with many falcons there....very impressive!

                                             

                                                  Then I wandered past a field with camels!

                        Had a nice dinner at a sidewalk cafe and then this parade came by.....so amazing!