What to enjoy at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport
Efficiency, variety and a giant yellow teddy bear. That’s what you can expect to enjoy – and so much more – at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (HIA). After all, this airport is recognised as the world’s best. Some of the 60 million passengers HIA presently welcomes annually saw fit to acknowledge the airport’s distinctive Arabic […]
Gorgeous Georgia an ideal holiday destination for South Africans
Georgia is visa-friendly. It is also affordable; scenically beautiful, safe, and offers visitors a wonderful mix of cultures, thanks to its location in the mountainous crossroads of Europe and Asia. The food is fabulous and the wine, too. Oh, and did I mention rugby? In short, Georgia is an ideal holiday destination for South Africans. […]
Endless enriching exhibitions in Qatar
You name it and Qatar has probably hosted it. Exhibitions, that is. Be it a hands-on plunge into agriculture or an online Zoom opportunity to explore AI in the Arabic world, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to exhibitions in Qatar. Thankfully, all such exhibitions are free to the public. Many are held […]
Wealth in digging up the past in Qatar
In digging up its past, Qatar confirms its status as a wealthy country. While today’s affluence is built on the country’s vast oil and gas reserves, the Qatar of yesteryear had pearls and international trading to thank for its success. This all comes to light at the Al Zubarah archaelogical site. Situated on the north […]
50 tips about Qatar – part 2
Life in Qatar is ever interesting to new-time residents and visitors alike, given its Arabic culture, desert landscapes and often outrageous signs of wealth. This is part 2 of 50 tips about Qatar. If you missed the first half, which included everything from affection to football, here it is – 50 tips about Qatar. Now […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]