Harriet Solomon

IF TRAVEL IS AN ADDICTION, I’M AFFLICTED

Doha: A Lego City

For me, Qatar was to be nothing more than a stopover. Following an action packed adventure in China, we had managed to incorporate a few days of well deserved rest in Doha on our journey home to England.

My experiences in Beijing had been utterly incomprehensible and it was safe to say that I truly had been touched by this magical city (you can read my full account here) At that point, I was quite literally floating on a high and was feeling rather blasé about the next leg of our trip, convinced that nothing and nowhere could compare to the place I hope one day I will call home.

Often, travel writing is inundated with wonderful tales of joy, exciting exclamations and profound discoveries, and for good reason. To venture from home and step out of your comfort zone, more often than not, brings an almost immeasurable happiness.

Nevertheless, I think it’s very important that we are honest with ourselves, and indeed, with each other. Too frequently, when returning home from somewhere different, we feel the need to exaggerate, an almost desperate desire to prove to others that we really have had the time of our lives. It isn’t that there is anything wrong with this exactly, more I feel that people should at least be aware of the fact that it is not a requirement to fall in love with every place you visit and not every journey must be life changing. Sometimes, a holiday is just that. A much needed break that enables you to experience another place and focus on something other than a routine, even if this is only momentarily.

Qatar is by no means one of my favourite destinations and I have no burning desire to return in the near future, or in fact, at all. Nonetheless, I am a firm believer in the idea that one individual’s lack of enthral when visiting a location in no way dictates its value.

Following our landing at the airport, a taxi drove us to our hotel in the centre of the city. Even now, I am able to remember distinctly the images of Doha, it was without a doubt something of a paradise. The water was a superficial shade of blue and the palm trees that lined the streets were a luscious green, the scene could quite plausibly have been taken from a travel brochure.

Yet, despite this undeniable beauty, the first thing to truly resonate with me was the silence. I’m not necessarily referring to this taxi journey (needless to say with my seven year old brother in tow this particular expedition was anything but quiet) rather the city as a whole. There is an almost eerie quietness to the air, quite possibly a consequence of the fact that the streets are typically fairly empty (for those that wish to avoid looking as if they’ve run a short marathon as soon as they’ve stepped outside, direct sunlight is to be avoided). In comparison to the never ending hustle and bustle of other parts of Asia, this sense of peace in which people roamed the city at a pace of ease, was both refreshing and disturbing.

Doha is a Lego City, or at least that’s the impression I got from my fairly short visit. Even from the window of the aeroplane, skyscrapers of all shapes and sizes can be seen, rising into the city’s skyline. Walking the streets tends to lead to neck ache as one attempts to view the ridiculously tall glass buildings that stand like trees on the edge of every road, their presence seemingly accepted as the norm. Whilst some of our favourite cosmopolitan destinations have been labelled as concrete jungles, Doha is a glass metropolis like no other I have ever encountered.

 

Doha Skyscrapers

Whilst I must admit that we did indeed chose to indulge a little more than is typical on this holiday (many an hour was spent cooling off in our hotel pool and soaking up the sun on the sand), we did of course venture further than the confines of our hotel lobby.

Now, before I say this, I should clarify that I am not usually quite so taken by a shopping mall, needless to say they rarely seem to make it onto any ‘must see’ list that I’ve ever read. Despite this, I can say with unabashed conviction that Doha City Centre Mall cannot be missed. Not only is the 5* air conditioning worth the taxi ride, joining a queue for a much needed KFC (what can I say, after two weeks of grilled dog on a stick, the appeal of a good french fry was far too strong to resist) surrounded entirely by women dressed in black burkas and men clothed in perfect white robes, was a truly odd experience that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

So, whilst Qatar did not stand out to me in a particularly remarkable fashion, I am still capable of appreciating its quirks and charms. Whether it’s soaking up some culture in the Museum of Islamic Art, taking a stroll along the coast or simply returning the ever frequent ‘As-Salaam-Alaikum’ that is directed your way, Doha is definitely worth a visit, without experience opinions cannot be formed, after all.

 

Museum of Islamic Art

globetrottingteen

47 responses to “Doha: A Lego City”

  3. Nice travel photos! It looks like you are using a film camera? If so, what film camera are you using? I am also traveling right now in Doha, Qatar doing my street photography. Thanks for the follow.

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      • Just read your piece on India, beautifully written and yes as one person pointed out , Living in Delhi , in its chaos , the hustle and bustle, all this really becomes a part of life and one doesn’t really notice it.

        I see that you’ve shown keen interest in visiting India again( you definitely should!). I recommend you leave out the touristy places and take the roads less taken. One of them being the beautiful hidden Gems in North India, in the Himalayas. You can take a look at my blog and see a few of them. Ill surely post more in the coming time.

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      • Thank you for taking the time to read my posts and I will absolutely look out for some of your work. I was incredibly lucky that during my time in India I did get to do a fair amount of exploring – using overnight trains to get around we were able to spend some time camping on the banks of the Ganges and in the Himalayas (we were based at a camp in Sitlakhet?) Unfortunately these were flying visits so as you have pointed out, I am keen to return to India to explore some of the less renowned locations that I am frequently told are just as wonderful!

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  5. Beautiful post, delightfully written and presented. I am a wee bit green with envy for one of my dreams is to travel. Know how truly fortunate you are to be doing what you are. And I thank you for sharing your wealth of seeing this beautiful world with us. ❤

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    • Thank you so much! I know how incredibly lucky I am and I am truly grateful every day for the experiences I have had. I hope that one day you are able to fulfil your dreams of travelling as well ☺️

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      • Bless your Heart!!! Many responsibilities I have right now but there is coming a day that what I do now, will no longer be in my Life. I just hope I am spry enough to travel. LOL I can still Dream though …. ❤

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      • You can absolutely dream and I’m sure that one day you’ll have the opportunity to do the things that you’ve always wanted to ☺️

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  7. In many ways, I agree with you on Doha – it didn’t stand out much, but if you took the time to explore all the nooks and crannies, then it can surprise you after all! It’s probably just about more authentically Arabic than Dubai too 😉

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    • Thank you for reading! You’re probably right, perhaps I will get the chance to go back again in the future and can explore further ☺️

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  9. very enjoyable, nice photos too. You do a good job of pointing out that all cities have their own charm, and there is something for everyone. I loved traveling when I could…travel is not only interesting and exciting it is also very educational. 🙂

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  11. I have a friend who lives in Doha (studies in England and is British) but her family moved there 4 years ago due to her dads job. It’s fascinating listening to her tell stories of the way of life over there! Sounds like you had an interesting experience! Love the post and your writing style! X

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    • That sounds wonderful, I can only imagine how different and exciting actually moving abroad must be! Thank you ☺️

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  16. i’m obsessed with your blog! i absolutely love traveling, although i haven’t been able to go as much as i would like to recently. i’d love to visit here, as well as the other places you’ve written about. can’t wait to read more of your writing! 🙂

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