August 2023
My fascination with the Middle East continues with Qatar. It has been trying hard to become a tourist destination over the last few years. It hosted the World Cup recently and has Formula 1 racing among many other things to draw tourists. They have a stopover program like Dubai had years ago when it was trying to bring in tourism. So on my way to South Africa I decided to spend some time here.
The flight from LAX to Doha is about 15 hours nonstop on Qatar Airways. They codeshare with American so I easily used points for the flights.
A decade ago, few had heard of the sleepy desert capitol of Qatar an unassuming peninsula that juts out into the Persian Gulf. A city that’s only been in existence since the 1820s now boasts outlandish high-rises, lavish hotels and extravagant malls. It is an up-and-coming rival to the desert glamour of Dubai.
Here are two maps showing where Qatar is on the map.
I stayed at the Intercontinental Doha Beach Resort and it was very nice. It’s right on the beach with beautiful views of the city. Too bad the gulf was way too warm to swim!
I enjoyed every minute of wandering the labyrinth of Souq Waqif. The energy, the smells, the haggling, the unknown around every corner. I had an amazing local Qatari dinner, it didn’t look good in picture but tasted great! People watching was very enjoyable. The souq is built on the site of Doha’s century old trading market, on the banks of the Wadi Musheireb. It almost feels out of place with the backdrop of Doha’s modern skyline. The mud and limestone buildings keep it cool, winding alleys bring you back to what traditional street life must have been like at the time of the Bedouins. It’s still a bustling center of activity, commerce and so much fun.
I explored more of Doha this morning and then relaxed on the beach back at my hotel. The heat is oppressive so it was nice to relax on the beach and swim in the pool, the gulf was too warm to swim. One of the coolest things I saw today was the outdoor air conditioning around the city!
At Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital مستشفى سوق واقف للصقور — I really enjoyed a visit to the Falcon Souq in Doha. Falcons are the national bird of Qatar and have always been a huge part of the country’s rich heritage and culture. The souq has trained birds and all the equipment they need. There also is a Falcon Hospital that is the largest of its kind on the world. In the same area of the souq, I visited camels and Arabian horses that belong to the police for their use and patrols.
Some interesting facts I learned about Falcons:
They are the fastest animal in the world with diving speeds of over 200mph.
They helped during WWII, they were used to intercept carrier pigeons.
They commit to one partner for the duration of their reproductive life.
They have amazing eyesight and use each eye independently to focus on up to three objects simultaneously. So they can focus on more than one prey item at a time.
La Mar Doha by Gastón Acurio is right here at my hotel so I had to take advantage of this and have a nice meal, even if it’s not local! It is contemporary Peruvian cuisine, known for its rich flavours and diverse influences. The menu has cebiches, fresh seafood, and charcoal-grilled meats paired with signature handcrafted cocktails. Situated right on the beach, it has stunning and panoramic views of the Doha skyline.
I have been looking forward to seeing this airport! I’ll spend more time here at the end of my trip and see how it compares to my favorites, Singapore and Beijing Capital. The airport is crazy, it has a mosque, two hotels, 12 lounges, so many duty free shopping areas, health club, two squash courts, a gym, a spa and a swimming pool. Perfect for long layovers but you really do need to see the city!
Next stop is a 9 hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa!