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(The direct link to the Website is at the bottom of this email
The site is best viewed on a computer and not a phone)
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After finding out that the cable news channel Al Jazeera America has decided to close down I realized it was finally time for me to start working on my website relating to my observations and experiences in Doha, Qatar and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

As you may know, Al Jazerra America is owned by the fabulously wealthy Al Thani family of Qatar.  Surprisingly I found it to be one of the best news stations on the air.  Al Jazerra hired top senior news journalists from the U.S.A. who are not just talking heads but people who actually go out into the field and produce their own stories.  Their presentations were surprisingly fair, honest and not leaning in any one direction.  In my opinion the viewer always got a true and valid sense of the story.   This philosophy surprised me to an even greater extent because of the way the country itself operates.  I will tell you more about this on the website.

There are several theories as to why the station decided to go off the air:

• The network proved to be unpopular and was unable to overcome the low ratings.
• The name “Al Jazerra” is one that does not exactly attract many Americans.
• Although still tremendously wealthy the dropping of oil prices has put a dent in the Al Thani family’s   pocketbook.  They did not want to keep sinking money into a losing proposition.

On my website about Doha and Dubai I hope to convey to you some of my impressions of both these places and display some of the great pictures that I took.  There is no ongoing story as was in my Cuba and Nepal website so it is easy to skip around and pick and choose what you want to see.  If you have limited time please make sure you take a look at:

For Doha:

• The plight of the Nepalese workers in Qatar on the FIFA 2022 page
• The People of Doha page
• The Skyline page to see the extraordinary architecture of Doha.
• The two pages on the Al Najada Souq (dripping with fabulous jewels)

For Dubai

• The pages on the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world) and the Video on the “Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall”  - introductory page.
• The Video of our ride through the Sand Dunes on the “Tallest Buildings and Ride Through the Dunes” page.
  
• The Bird’s Eye View Video on “The Burj Khalifa from the 123rd floor - and the Bird’s Eye View” page
• At the very least please skim through the pictures of the absolutely unbelievable buildings of Dubai.

I fell in love with Dubai.  It is “OVER THE TOP” and I actually enjoy that.  Dubai is one of the most spectacular cities I have even been to.  I hope to go back there again.

My purpose for this website is twofold:

• To share with you some of my feelings and experiences with the Qatari people and how they treated  the people who have and are building their infrastructure.  I also want to give you a look at the  amazing city of Doha.
• To give you just a little taste of one of the most astounding cities I have ever visited, Dubai.

Howie