“Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a
sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched
elsewhere.”
― The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle
Eberhardt
I flew from
Melbourne to Doha on a 15-hour long flight (phew!). It left me jet lagged,
heavy-eyed, and disheveled. My connecting flight wound up having a 14-hour
layover, after which I was bound to take another 4-hour flight to Islamabad.
Counting my total transit time in your head? 33 hours! Yes. Crazy. Insane.
However, everything in between was simply magical, absolutely pleasurable!
While generally
considered to be nothing short of a malediction, a long layover can actually be
a sweetener. We all dread the idea of sitting around the airport for hours –
how uneventful and insipid - but turning that layover into a mini vacation can
prove to be a delightful experience. With 14 hours on the ground, I had roughly
about eight hours to explore the city (and to stretch my legs). I only got a
taste of what Doha had to offer, but it was just enough to make me want to go
back. This wasn’t preplanned – and I’m not the one known for being spontaneous
or adventurous but I guess that is all about to change soon.
So, I decided
to knock my socks off! Not literally, though. Got my transit visa approved,
checked into a hotel, dumped my hand carry there, and booked a city tour with
the hotel services. Overjoyed with the excitement of exploring a new city, a
new country, while still dog-tired, I embarked on an adventure!
Being
(somewhat) an art aficionado, my first stop was at the Islamic Museum of Art,
the signature of Doha. The first thing I noticed as I entered the building was
the magnificent large window looking out over Doha bay. Spending a year in
Melbourne has somewhat westernized me (to some extent), so in a country that is
presumably guided by Islamic or unfamiliar laws, I was petrified to do even the
most normal things a tourist would do in fear of offending anyone (however, I
later realized my fear was unfounded). You cannot imagine how thrilled I was
when I spotted a white man that I comfortably approached to take a photo of me with
the grand window in the background. I felt I could relate to a white man more
than those Muslims strolling around in thawbs. Weird, I know.
Walking through
this building, which is well known for the largest collection of Islamic art
than any other museum in the world gave me a different view of cultural
heritage and religion. Though from the name one might assume the museum is
about Islam but you’ll be gratified to know that it also contains
non-religious, Arabic, Asian and African art.
Doha, a cosmopolitan, modern city, is mostly man-made
(you’ll hardly see anything ‘natural’ other than the sky over your head) with
its skyline dominated by uniquely designed skyscrapers, however, the wonderland
isn't short of green parks and spaces. My next visit was to Al Dafna Park; a
seaside district which gives the park an astounding beach view. It was around 3
pm and the place was over-brimmed with women and children. Women, dressed up in
traditional clothes, occupied benches and sat on the grass in small groups while
they chatted in hushed ‘Arabic’ tones. Thanks to the ocean breeze; children
were flying kites filling the sky with colors. I reckon they were on a school trip.
The restless
shopaholic in me then magnetically pulled me towards Souq Waqif - a
traditional, and probably the oldest market in Doha. The moment I rested my
eyes on it, it transported me to the life and times of Disney’s Aladdin and
Princess Jasmine. The ambience at this mud-coated iconic spot gives both locals
and tourists a true feel of Arabic environment and a glimpse of past and a quainter
Doha. It is a one-stop market where I found myself freely interacting with
Qatari culture. From traditional food and souvenirs to diamonds, utensils,
spices, sweets, rugs, and textiles a walk through the souq gives you an
opportunity to explore hidden gems that are yet to be discovered. I even
witnessed camels, birds and horses being bought and sold. Fascinating! Another
interesting observation – photos of the king adorned most products, store walls
and windows. Hail the king!
My next
destination was Katara Cultural Village - located between the Pearl and West
Bay on the eastern coast, it is a breath-taking spot of history and heritage.
Although fairly new, and some of it is still under construction, yet it creates
a beautiful feel of a small Arabic settlement. A young Sudanese driver gave me
a free ride around the village in his neat little white buggy. During my brief
interaction with him, he was able to fill me in with his life story. I took my
time to appreciate the beauty of the sculptures artistically positioned between
the amphitheater and the beach. There was also a considerably small but
beautiful replica of the Blue Mosque of Turkey, and many other well known
buildings and structures.
It was an exhilarating experience that truly lifted my spirits. I do
agree that these short trips may not be an ideal way of traveling to every city
on your bucket list but seeing it as a bonus trip can often make it worth the
added time. So I would suggest you to never miss the boat (or/and the plane)!
