Posts Tagged ‘Doha’

Time for a break!

Time for a break!

9 November 2009

I'm writing to you from Icheon Airport in Seoul, Korea. I have my computer going, talking on Skype and listening to my iTunes, which needs some updating!! I only have another 6 hours to wait (it’s been two already) before my flight to Honolulu so should be able to fit that in ;) Some of the latest songs I have put on my playlist are, ‘Space they cannot touch’,’ The last day on earth’ and ‘The one thing I know’. They are all from Kate Miller-Heidke and another one I like is ‘Neopolitan Dreams’ by Lisa Mitchell. I’ll have to let you know what else I’m listening to soon. I didn't get the result I wanted in Bali, disappointed to only win one match there but I played well against Maria Jose so at least I’m happy I finished playing a good match. I stayed another two days in Bali after my tournament was over, went snorkelling two days in a row which you can  see from all my new pics. Bali photo gallery Doha photo gallery It was awesome, there were so many different kinds of fish, even saw a sea snake. The guide told us it wasn't poisonous but I still wasn't going near it. There was another weird looking really long and skinny fish down there with some sort of spear looking thing coming out the back of it, which I wasn't too keen on going too close to ... I know you are all thinking what a scaredy cat I must me ;) There was another guy in the water from another boat with a spear gun! Not sure what he thought he was doing with it with a bunch of people in front and around him, our guide told him off but he just turned around and pointed in another direction ... Anything goes in Bali I guess. I have never been snorkelling before, I think with a little more practice I’ll be able to do it without swallowing so much water and feeling ill afterwards ha ha! We also went into Kuta one afternoon for a couple of hours, neither Dave or myself bought anything. Well except for a double cheese burger from Maccas ... Was good to see but I can’t say I’ll be rushing back there any time soon. Apart from that spent some time on the beach and just chilled out. I have watched many hours of the Animal Channel the last two weeks in Bali and Doha too, I love it. I'm on my way to Honolulu now, that's why I’m stuck in the airport right now ... I'm going there for two days to do some stuff with Oakley then I head back home to the Gold Coast. I'm really looking forward to getting back, to see my friends and just be home. Don't have any plans but I do want to go for a ride on my bike ... Poor Scotty hasn't been ridden all year and now that I’m living in a different area it will be more interesting to go for a ride. I call him Scotty cause it’s a Scott mountain bike ;) Before I go I want to thank all of you for cheering me on this year and supporting me. I appreciate it and hope I can give you even more to cheer about next year. Thanks for reading my blogs and checking out my website too :) Until next time, Sam

Hi everyone,

I'm writing to you from Icheon Airport in Seoul, Korea. I have my computer going, talking on Skype and listening to my iTunes, which needs some updating!!

I only have another 6 hours to wait (it’s been two already) before my flight to Honolulu so should be able to fit that in ;)

Some of the latest songs I have put on my playlist are, ‘Space they cannot touch’,’ The last day on earth’ and ‘The one thing I know’. They are all from Kate Miller-Heidke and another one I like is ‘Neopolitan Dreams’ by Lisa Mitchell. I’ll have to let you know what else I’m listening to soon.

I didn't get the result I wanted in Bali, disappointed to only win one match there but I played well against Maria Jose so at least I’m happy I finished playing a good match.

I stayed another two days in Bali after my tournament was over, went snorkelling two days in a row which you can  see from all my new pics. Bali photo gallery http://samstosur.com/2009/11/09/sams-bali-adventures/

Doha photo gallery http://samstosur.com/2009/11/09/doha-photo-gallery/

It was awesome, there were so many different kinds of fish, even saw a sea snake. The guide told us it wasn't poisonous but I still wasn't going near it.

There was another weird looking really long and skinny fish down there with some sort of spear looking thing coming out the back of it, which I wasn't too keen on going too close to ... I know you are all thinking what a scaredy cat I must me ;)

There was another guy in the water from another boat with a spear gun! Not sure what he thought he was doing with it with a bunch of people in front and around him, our guide told him off but he just turned around and pointed in another direction ... Anything goes in Bali I guess.

I have never been snorkelling before, I think with a little more practice I’ll be able to do it without swallowing so much water and feeling ill afterwards ha ha!

We also went into Kuta one afternoon for a couple of hours, neither Dave or myself bought anything. Well except for a double cheese burger from Maccas ... Was good to see but I can’t say I’ll be rushing back there any time soon.

Apart from that spent some time on the beach and just chilled out. I have watched many hours of the Animal Channel the last two weeks in Bali and Doha too, I love it.

I'm on my way to Honolulu now, that's why I’m stuck in the airport right now ... I'm going there for two days to do some stuff with Oakley then I head back home to the Gold Coast.

I'm really looking forward to getting back, to see my friends and just be home. Don't have any plans but I do want to go for a ride on my bike ... Poor Scotty hasn't been ridden all year and now that I’m living in a different area it will be more interesting to go for a ride. I call him Scotty cause it’s a Scott mountain bike ;)

Before I go I want to thank all of you for cheering me on this year and supporting me. I appreciate it and hope I can give you even more to cheer about next year. Thanks for reading my blogs and checking out my website too :)

Until next time,

Sam

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More pics from Doha

More pics from Doha

9 November 2009

Check out some pics of me and Rennae in Doha at the Sony Ericsson Championships. [gallery]

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Photos from Doha

Photos from Doha

31 October 2009

Photos from behind the scenes at the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha. [gallery link="file"]

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Postcard from Doha

Postcard from Doha

31 October 2009

I'm writing to you from Doha at the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships. I arrived here on Tuesday afternoon. I took it easy once I arrived after the 24-hour journey from Brisbane. The hotel is amazing and we are all getting looked after very well, my room is probably bigger then my apartment and definitely bigger then where I was staying last week with the clothes dryer in my room haha, I have had a beautiful bunch of roses delivered to the room the first day I got here and we have received some gifts each day too. Some of the perks at being at the Champs i guess. I'm not too sure the hotel is too environmentally focused though. There are 45 lights in my room!!! There are 15 in the chandelier and the rest are lamps and down lights... crazy!  I have learned what the traditional dress is of Qatar and it varies from the rest of the countries on the Gulf... it has been very interesting finding out different things about this place. On Wednesday Stubbsy and I had our first practice. We hit at 12 and it was HOT! my feet felt like they were burning at times and we had quite a few drink breaks but we got through the 2 hour session I found out afterwards there are actually heaters under the court to regulate the humidity and stop water from forming on the surface. Who would have thought there would be heaters under court in the desert? The next day was much better. We were a little more used to the conditions and practised much better. We had the draw ceremony yesterday too, we drew Liezel and Cara in our first match. I'm sure all of us are expecting a tough and competitive match and I know Stubbsy and I are looking forward to it. Today we are going practise a couple of times and the 2nd session we are going to play a practice set against the Spanish pair Maria Jose and Nuria. We have a clinic with some people from Sony Ericsson and apart from that taking it easy.  The pool here at the hotel is very nice, I had lunch and a swim down there yesterday. The water is a little warm for my liking considering how hot it is outside but I won't complain. Hang on, I just found another light on the balcony, make that 46 lights! We will play our match tomorrow either at 2pm or 7.30pm I think. Tomorrow night there is also the end of year party. Considering how the week has been so far I'm sure it will be good fun. That's all for now I hope to be able to write with some good news next time. Sam

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Year-end championships begin

Year-end championships begin

30 October 2009

Sam begins her campaign with fellow Aussie Rennae Stubbs at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha against top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber.  Black and Huber qualified in first place followed by the Williams sisters second, Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez third and Sam/Stubbs fourth. Sam and Rennae only started playing doubles together this year and haven't won a title yet but were runners-up three times.  Sam has won this event twice in her career with Lisa Raymond while Stubbs also paired with Raymond to win in 2001. The first round match should be tough: Zimbabwean Black and American Huber are going for a third straight Tour championship title, while the event is a debut for the Williams sisters, who are both playing in the singles as well.

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Sony Ericsson Championships

26 October 2009

Women's doubles with Rennae Stubbs Seeded No.4
Rd Opponent Result W/L
1r Cara Black/Liezel Huber 36 76(8) 108 L

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