50 tips about Qatar
If you are coming to Qatar, here’s an A to Z of things that might make your visit or future temporary home a little easier to navigate. They are my 50 tips about Qatar. I share these tips, insights, titbits or things about Qatar as I near my two-year Qatarversary and for what is my […]
Toilets in Qatar – lifting the lid on what goes down here
To wee or not to wee? While this is a rhetorical anatomical question, the where for conducting the necessary is very important, especially if you are travelling or are far from your own toilet. And, when you are outside of your own country, the where (and even the how) becomes even more critical. That’s why […]
New old Doha Port a colourful must
The old Doha Port is a must for locals and visitors alike with its quaint colourful architecture, large open tracts of green space, interesting shops and eating spots, and stunning vistas of the city centre’s skyline. Oh, and let me not forget the fish market that resembles an art gallery, the stylish cruise terminal, the […]
South Africans (and rugby) in Qatar
“Ag nee, man, Boetie!” This frustrated lament may be commonplace in South Africa and hardly worth a sideways glance, but when your blood is green and you are far from home, such phrases are gold for they stir something deep within. With the Rugby World Cup now well underway, I know I am not alone […]
How art builds bridges in Qatar
The woman lies sleeping on her bed. The child, presumably a daughter, is transfixed by her mother’s face as she tugs at the string holding her mask in place. Visually and historically striking, this painting gets us talking … Why the mask? Who wears such a mask? When was this painted? Is this the norm? […]
The falcons of Qatar – and some
Falcons are to Qatar what rugby is to South Africa – an integral part of this nation’s DNA. With rugger and the Boks, it’s fervent support, braaivleis, beers, massive commercial opportunities and even nation building. In Qatar, these feathered fellows are kingpin to an entire culture, heritage and burgeoning recreation economy. For a South African, […]
The cats of Qatar, aka Catar
With two to three times more cats than humans in Qatar, the Catar reference is hardly surprising. Cats are everywhere – living it up in luxurious villas, scrounging for survival on the city’s streets or, of late, parking off on my balcony. Cats are synonymous with Qatar. The picture postcard shots of the swanky Doha […]
The pandas of Qatar
There are about 3 million people from as many as 121 different countries living in Qatar – and there are two pandas from China, too. Yes, those lovely, cute black and white bears that inhabit the cooler climes, now reside in this sweltering hot Gulf state. They are the first pandas to live in the […]
The weather in Qatar
The weather in Qatar in summer is hot. I mean HOT, as in frizzy hair, continual perspiration and spectacles that mist up the moment you step outside. Yes, sweltering, as working hours are officially changed, heat-related illnesses soar and all life form retreats or runs away. Birds pant, plants wilt and the cold tap dispenses […]
10 weird and wonderful things about Qatar – part 2
If you are coming to Qatar, expect a country of contrasts, all of which make it a weird and wonderful place to visit. Did you know, for example, that Qatar does not have any forests, but intends to have planted 10 million trees by 2030? (They planted a quick million in the run-up to the […]