Check the Thailand May 31st journal entry for the journal from Vietnam back into Thailand Qatar: We arrived in Doha this morning around 11 after a 7 hour flight from Bangkok. We have a day here for a layover and we were expecting to cruise the city then come back and crash in the airport. However, we were in for a very nice surprise. The Qatar Air plane we flew in was incredible, they served two meals and we had on-demand videos at our fingertips from flip up screens. It made the trip go by easily. Definetly the nicest planes we have flown on. We arrived at the airport to find it packed with people. The first thing we saw after stepping off the plane was a ladies prayer room, and also a mens. I forgot to mention that on the movie screens showing our path to Qatar, the screens would periodically show how far and the direction we were pointed in comparison to Mecca. It was a new experience. After talking with secuirty and explaining we were Americans we were directed to get a visa to leave. First we stopped by Qatar Air hotel services. They quickly informed us that we had more than an 8 hour layover so they would be putting us up for the night. So we get a free taxi ride to the hotel, and soon find out we each have our own single rooms, and lunch and dinner are on the airlines!! They do it right in the middle east. WE had lunch and poked around some, but are now at one of the biggest malls in the middle east. We walk in and in the center of the mall is an Ice Skating rink, to the left is a go-kart track, mountain climbing wall, and even a starbucks. The strange thing is that everyone is driving in mercedes and porches, yet the women are in the traditional muslim veils and the men have long white robes with a turban on their head that is similar to those worn by Saudi Arabians. The city is booming with construction, as I think they are trying to catch up with Dubai. Everyone has been extremely friendly, and it has been nice to spend a day here, we have to get used to the time change so we will have plenty of time to tour the city. Tom has taken some pictures but we ran into the USB problem again and probably wont be able to load them until Capetown. Qatar is beyond hot, but an experience like no other, you can tell there are some deep pockets from oil when porches and range rovers go flying by you. We fly down to SA tomorrow and should give you an update within a day or two. Hope all is well in he states, well talk to our friends over here and see if they can give us a discount on some barrels of oil to save you guys some money back in the states!