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 […]
10 weird and wonderful things about Qatar
Qatar is a weird but wonderful place full of unforgettable experiences.
Being a domestic goddess in Doha, Qatar
I am a domestic goddess … Yep, while I still work with words for a living, I can add cleaning, ironing, mopping, washing, polishing and so forth in a foreign environment to my repertoire of capabilities. You see, after 15 months in Doha, Qatar, I now know my scrubbers from my scourers; what the best […]
Know more about Qatar’s pearls, glorious pearls …
Think Qatar today and the likely image is that of oil, gas, modern luxury, desert scenes and successful hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This picture is a far cry from the Qatar of yesteryear when pearls, glorious pearls, were the country’s main source of income. So think Qatar, and you can think pearls. […]
A Qatar desert experience with a difference
A dune-bashing, camel-riding sojourn, inclusive of a night spent under the stars, complete with Arabic hospitality and good food in the desert, is high on the list of every visitor to Qatar. It had been high on mine. I’d seen the alluring sun-soaked, deserted desert photographs, read the enthusiastic feedback of visitors and researched the […]