All revved for Qatar’s F1 Grand Prix – and some
It’s the “and some” that I want to share. This is the fun, the mardi gras, carnival atmosphere – call it what you will – that happens alongside the high-octane racing at Qatar’s Formula One Grand Prix that I want to tell you about it. No doubt, such sideshows take place at each of the […]
Doha’s arches sparkle with meaning
They are Doha’s famous arches, the tallest and most symbolic of Qatar’s monuments, but actually, they belong to me, too. The Al Wahda Arches are mine in the same way that a building, park or any other significant landmark in your own neighbourhood becomes yours. By proximity and familiarity, we take ownership. Or, at least, […]
Armenia a natural and cultural travel wonder
Affordable and ancient, beautiful and bountiful, Christian and culturally rich … the descriptors for Armenia roll off the tongue as easily as this landlocked country’s mountain rivers and lilting landscape. But scratch a little deeper and words get stuck in the back of the throat as you discover the complexities and harsh past of […]
‘I think I ate horse meat in Kazakhstan – yikes!’
I think I ate horse meat in Kazakhstan. I never expected to do either – eat one of my favourite animals or find myself in Central Asia – but life has a habit of sending us curved balls. Or, in this case, deliver a rich, unexpected travel experience of a people and place once only […]
Drivers offer ‘uber’ insights into life in Qatar
Whether you are a visitor to Qatar, or a resident non-driver like me, navigating your way around the capital, Doha, is easy, thanks to an efficient public transport system and up to 24 000 Uber drivers clamouring for your business. Such transport is affordable since fuel is just QAR2 (that’s R10 or 43 pence) a […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]