Joanna James
Qatar has come a long way from being a settlement of pearl diving. Oil and gas made Qatar's capital, Doha, one of the swankiest places on earth, and tourists who visit the city are spoiled for choice.
Doha has some of the best international shopping malls as well as traditional souks. If one were to go on a shopping spree, the city would gladly welcome that whim: some of the malls that spring to mind are Villagio Mall, Doha Festival City, Dragon Mart, Ezdan Mall, Gulf Mall and Hyatt Plaza; suffice it to say that Doha doesn't hold back when competing with the shopping mecca Dubai. Duty-free shopping renders prices competitive, and electronic goods are a fast-moving commodity due to low prices. Traditional souks like Souk Waqif, offer visitors Bedouin-style shopping; some of the things you can buy at a traditional market are fabrics, ceramics, spices, incense, intricately carved oil lamps, and perfumes.
The main highlight of Qatar is the desert: Qatar has the only desert in the world that meets the sea. 5 star hotels in Doha offer desert safaris to their visitors: in truth, the desert has a lot more to offer than what's available at present. Dune bashing is a leisure time activity in Doha, not to mention spending a night in a Bedouin tent. Watching the sun becomes one with the desert in the evening grows your love for Mother Nature; getting your hands painted with henna will make you feel like a Bedouin.
Having a meal at a restaurant in Doha costs you next to nothing. The diverse community in this modern city has spawned an array of restaurants offering European, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Tourists enjoy the best Iranian and Moroccan food while in Doha, and those who love curries are indulged to the highest degree. Restaurants offered by Souq Al Wakra Hotel Qatar by Tivoli are an example of Doha's culinary accomplishments.
The Bedouin tradition is still continued and therefore preserved. Centuries back, Bedouins used to go hunting in the desert with falcons, and as a result, falcons became an intricate part of the local culture. Now a homegrown sport, falconry is the iconic symbol of Qatar, and therefore, of Doha. Falcon hospitals tend to wounded and sick falcons, and they also offer visits to tourists: you can visit one of the flacon hospitals and watch the birds being treated while a member of staff explains the entire procedure to you.
Doha doesn't have many public beaches, but the few it has offer all the usual watersports. Being a conservative country, Qatar doesn't welcome the idea of bikini-clad females, though swimsuits are allowed at hotel swimming pools and private beaches.
Shishas or hookahs are an element of Doha's social scene; these are a traditional commodity in Doha. A shisha lasts longer than a cigarette; also, they are said to be better than a pipe. While most locals go for the tobacco brand called Zagloul, the range of fruity flavours is one with a tourist's taste, not to mention the cappuccino shishas. If you happen to be in a circle of shisha smoking locals, make sure you don't light your fag from someone else's bowl, it is no better than drinking someone else's pint at a bar.
The great creation of the Chinese architect I.M Pei, the Museum of Islamic Art displays a carefully calibrated collection of Islamic art. Every single artefact reveals a story and demonstrates the global Islamic reach and influence. The display of the collection is a tribute to fine craftsmanship, and the architecture of the museum is nothing less than stupendously magnificent.
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