So it has been nine days that we are stucked in Doha, and daily three meals we have it in the ‘Brasserie on the Beach’ restaurant tucked on the LG of the hotel. So we’re quite sick of the food in the hotel already.
Tonite we decided to go out on our own to maybe a shopping mall to have fast food or any other food other than hotel. Thus, after asking the frontdesk we decided to have our dinner excursion in City Center Mall. Good thing about it is, they assured me that there are HSBC ATM machine there too.
We took the hotel’s ‘cab’ (Jaguar XJ) to City Center Mall.. which took us a mere 3mins.. Damn it’s near!! Got off the cab we decided to walk back later, maybe it’ll take us around 15mins or less.. The weather at night was quite chilly as we stepped out the car we can feel that the wind is blowing strong
So the first thing I look forward to was to get some money outta the ATM so we asked the information counter.. The lady looked at me blankly and then say “no no.. no HSBC”.. ??!?.. seriously? The frontdesk gonna get it!
So without further wasting time, Kentaro and I just walked off as we saw a queue at the money exchange shop. Good!.. Can change money there at least I thought.. After waiting in line for about 15mins and not moving an inch, I fed-up and tucked my HSBC ATM card into the ATM machine of QNB.. Qatar National Bank. Pushed a few button and my card was rejected. Fine!.. Cannot.. even though got ‘PLUS’ sign on it..
We decided to come back later and go makan first.. We went to the top floor and there the food court with McDonalds, Burger King, Stardees, KFC & others all lined up not too far away from the cineplex. On the way in, there is another ATM with ‘PLUS’ sign but this time is DOHA BANK. So I tried again, tuck my card into the machine and a few button.. then I read “reading SIM…something something” and I saw my card coming out.. and back in, and out and back in.. So I thought.. “okay, I think it’s reading”.. On that moment! the screen went back to the original screen before I tucked my card in!!!!… I knew this is *ucked! Kena eaten dy.. seriously! No matter how many button I pressed.. nothing happens.. What a shitty machine!!
I called the bank number listed, the fler just said.. “Go to HSBC bank tomorrow and they will give you back your card”.. Argh!!!!!.. Mess up!!!!
I ended up have to borrowed QR20 from Kentaro to buy my QR18 Burger King Whopper (small) meal set. I snucked RM20 back to Kentaro cause it’s almost 1:1 exchange rate..
The dinner never tasted so good.. hahahah.. too much good & fine food, the normal food seems to taste better.. So after our dinner, we went back to the exchange shop.. and this time the queue was shorter and by the time it came to our turn, we found out that we need to produce our Passport before we can do the change!!.. Damn wasted..
Frustrated, we start our walk back to the hotel.. It was quite a pleasant walk under the moonlight and strong cold breeze. We zip n zap between the newly constructed tall buildings; which is still not occupied. Like predicted around 15mins, we’ve reached the foyer of the hotel without breaking a sweat.. The weather again is dry and cold enough which makes the walk quite pleasurable.
I think next time we will walk to the mall next time we wanna have fast food.. and I have to remember to call HSBC tomm… can you imagine HSBC Qatar dun have toll free number nor 24hrs service?!.. Just absurd..
Hopefully tomm I can get confirmation coming back to KL.. cause looking at most of the airliner’s web, all the flight is fully booked! Till then Gnite!..
