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Qatar through the eyes of tourists
‘There is a road from the eye to the heart that does not go through the intellect.’
Gilbert Keith Chesterton.
Isn’t it strange that you always discover a lot more when you travel to a new place, as opposed to if you were living in the same place? We get so caught up in our routine lives that exploring our city takes a backseat.
‘Who has time for that?’
‘It’s all the same anyway’, are common grievances. Well, that is just an illusion our humdrum routines have deluded us into!
You all deserve a refreshing break. How about starting with a shift in perspective? My perspective shift happened when my friends were visiting Qatar for the first time last year. While shopping with them, my friend remarked, "How do you stand all this! Beautiful landscapes and the perfect shopping haven! I would never get bored in Qatar!"
She has been on several shopping sprees in Dubai before. But Qatar just won her heart.
I realized the poignancy of her remark and gratitude was rekindled in my heart. It’s time to explore Qatar again with fresh eyes. What better way to see Qatar with fresh eyes than that of tourists and visitors? TripAdvisor is the best traveling website online. Going through the comments of visitors in Qatar was uplifting.
Among important landmarks in Doha, Souq Waqif, Katara, Museum of Islamic Art, Corniche were hands down the favorites among them. Well here is a scoop of what fellow dwellers and tourists of this wonderland have to say about Qatar.
A Souq Waqif enthusiast MarieTherese73 shared her experience in May 2016:
“When you are in Doha looking for a place to shop authentic handmade items, dine and explore different experiences head to that Souq ! You will have a blast! You can get all fresh spices, garments and souvenirs, restaurants are all around .It is a renovated souk was done in 2006 to conserve its traditional architectural style. Dont miss passing by the Art center there. The only challenge you may find in summer is the heat but if you ever visit in summer just go there early evenings it will be very acceptable .Enjoy :-).”
Remember ‘The Arabian Nights’? The childhood fascination with flying carpets and running carefree in the streets of Agrabah. Interestingly, one visitor’s imagination was triggered by the same memory upon visiting Souq Waqif. TripAdvisor user MoniqueAlasdair commented on March 2016 about Souq Waqif:
“Guess you've seen the market in Aladdin? Yes that's how it looked like when I first saw Souq Waqif! Shops for different stuff such as nuts, spices, carpet etc. You will find restaurants which serves Mediterranean cuisines and of course you should try having shisha after! It's also great to hangout with friends and have coffee, tea or fresh fruit juices.”
Another insightful perspective is shared by 33photo who visited Souq in November 2015:
“This souq (marketplace) is wonderful in the sense that you can experience what it must have been like fifty or a hundred years ago in any place in the Muslim world. With hustling vendors, bartering, the different aromas, a myriad of choices.
If you are oblivious that this souq is a recreation then you will genuinely enjoy it.
Take the opportunity to walk all of it, you'll find anything from oils and fragrances to seeds and spices all in one place. I love how the aromas change every few feet.
People are friendly and interested in you as a foreigner and not pushy to sell at all.
Have some tea at one of the tea shops and enjoy watching people walk by.”
Photo credit: Dohalife
The same person, 33photo remarks about what was fascinating about the most popular museum in Doha, Museum of Islamic Art:
“If you only have time to do one thing in Doha then you must visit the Museum of Islamic Art.
The collection is priceless, the architecture is mesmerizing and as a westerner I left the museum with a much better understanding of Islam, its art and its people.
Even walking around from room to room is a wonderful experience.
Don't forget to go outside on the terrace to appreciate the fountains and a clear view of the Doha skyline.
Sunsets here are wonderful.”
Photo credit: Samim Qazi
Qatar’s landscape resplendent with awe-inspiring architecture and well-manicured parks and lawns is just one aspect to its charm. Here is a testimonial that well sums up what Qatar offers. A user on the site, mkrubeena, reports after visiting the Pearl, Qatar:
“Amazing place to relax with friends and family.
We were a group of three from different countries and all of us had one thing to say.. Amazingly Beautiful!!
Great food choices.. Open spaces.. Right by the sea!! Just beautiful!
We had many choices of Restaurants that included English, Japanese, Arabic, Egyptian and after a lot of deciding, we ended up getting something which was right for the three of us.
There are many places to shop which included many Designer Brands Like Versace, Aigner, Alexander McQueen , Calvin Klein Collection, Christian Audigier, Cole Haan, DIESEL, Domenico Vacca, Emporio Armani, ETRO, GF Ferré, Gianfranco Ferré, Giorgio Armani, Hermès, Hugo Boss - Orange, Ice Iceberg, John Galliano, Just Cavalli, Kipling, Lancel, Loro Piana, Love Moschino, Roberto Cavalli, Salvatore Ferragamo and Santoni.”
Photo credit: Samim Qazi
Katara is a cultural hotspot and a hub of creative and artistic activities. Independantice from UK visited Katara in September 2015 and sums up the experience beautifully:
“The Katara village is a must see, even on a short stopover
You can walk along the esplanade or take a buggy ride weaving in and out of the little lanes the architecture is traditional Qatari which makes the place even more beautiful
The soft white sandy beach is a clean and peaceful one ,maybe due to the small charge to visit it.
Plenty of other things to do here too, amphitheater looks amazing restaurants are dotted around catering to every budget
We stopped at the beautiful mosaic tiled masjid ,a must see
After which we enjoyed the karak chai which was a splendid end to a beautiful evening.”
Photo credit: Katara
People love hopping over to the Corniche, be it for a jog, a stroll along the water, a picnic with family, or to just lie down in the grass and snooze away. A lovely comment was given by Sudha G about Corniche:
“The best part of The Corniche is it looks like a fairy island in the night. The atmosphere is very cool and calm and the seashore is maintained very clean.”
Photo credit: Gustav Brandt
Nawaz K, an avid Corniche goer and knows his way around dhow tours, has this advice to offer:
“When you visit the Corniche, be sure to take a ride in a motorized traditional wooden dhow boat. You can bargain for a discounted rate and will be given a choice of English, Hindi or Arabic music. You will be treated to a lovely view of Doha's fabulous West Bay skyline, as well as views of the incredible Museum of Islamic Art and impressive hotels and administrative buildings. It's a wonderful place to view sunsets and a great place to walk, jog or exercise.”
Photo credit: Alexey Sergeev
The charm of the Middle East is well captured in these accounts. Intrigued visitors plan their trip with a vague image in mind from previous accounts and research online. But until one is physically in a place, its charisma and ambience cannot be understood. Visitors find the steady pace of Qatar soothing. It is not harried, and it offers everything gently at the convenience of the traveler/resident. This is why visitors leave Qatar happy, with a longing in their hearts to return soon.
Comments of visitors from TripAdvisor
Cover photo credit: Samim Qazi
Here come the apologist again. It is difficult get over slave mentality. And look at the justifications, someone is being more loyal than the king.
I am single from every angle and while I haven't been bothered to go to katara or the Mia during weekends; I have absolutely never been stopped at souq waqif... There are countless single men even during weekends... And if its the weekends, well the weekend family rule isn't a new thing is been done for years, fair or not... My personal opinion is that its not very fair for the single people but also fair in the sense that Qatar is a deeply family oriented society and even if they need a million bachelors to build their dreams; the bachelors need to come here fully prepared to be marginalised... You signed up to make more money and not to enter Mia... You left your family, hometown and friends because you wanted more than your country had on offer... Qatar has a job to be done and you have your services on offer in return for a fair fee... That's all it will ever be.... The country has limited space and they're not interested in catering to all demographics of a very transient society... Their priorities have been made clear and you need to now adjust your and if you can't just leave... Its what I say to Muslims who want things changed in the West as per their wishes; the West has decided on a way of life; so put up and shut up or else do not go there at all... Same to the westerners in Muslim places; you think we are misguided blind oppressive barbarians; well then stay in the first world and don't ditch your own land for a lucrative tax free salary... Rant over...
your freinds that came and visited had to had come from the slums or ghettos.
oh really ! Are thy only for tourists but i can see lot of residents and locals going there.
Mufti: Sorry , your protestations will fall on deaf ears..
These are places for tourists .....
Singles from third world countries are not allowed to enter Souq Waqif, Katara and MIA during weekends. I protest again.
WT is the only a single soul which is not able to find peace here .............but then 99.999 % satisfied souls are enough for us .......... one day WT's soul will be quenched of her thirst .........
How true ... Rizks often regales me with stories of driving away from the city, camping under the stars; sitting around a log fire singing songs or sleeping cuddled up to his favourite camel for warmth..
Wt: Love your comment about the real Qatar being free.. So true so true... I've grown up here and yet have never been to the pearl or most of the malls...been to villagio once to buy a particular set of earphones... my fun is far away from the glitz and show of the new age Qatar...
Thank you, and noted.
We look forward to part 2 :o)
the point I was making is that in the past month every blogger on QL has written about Qatar and rehashed the same old things about the places I mentioned..
Keep up the good work
Thank you, and of course, part 2 coming soon without the mention of any of these places.
The point of this post was 'look at Qatar with fresh eyes', which might have been missed entirely :)
The real Qatar costs nothing, the Mickey Mouse Qatar is very expensive.
There are lonely beaches, empty (empty?) desert planes, deep caves, 47 m high mountains (mountains?), and blue skies at day, and thousands of stars at night. And all of that is free.
But then it will be all about Villagio, Land Mark, and City Center. and not to forget Lulu's. Is that what you want to read about?
Great article - thanks..
But is it possible to have an article without Souq Waqif, Katara, The Pearl or MIA please ..
Summer is not fun
Sure, as long as you don't have to work here it's fun.