10 weird and wonderful things about Qatar
Qatar is a weird but wonderful place full of unforgettable experiences.
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. […]
The rhythm of Ramadan in Qatar
Doha, Qatar, has its own rhythm of life. While this rise-eat-school-work-eat-relax-pray-sleep routine is generally dependent on your own culture, work and family circumstances in the Middle East, it is collectively shoehorned into a new beat during Ramadan. Yes, the holiest month of Islam, dictates a different rhythm. It does so for Muslims around the world, […]
Katara – a cultural treat and retreat
The Katara Cultural Village is a favourite for visitors and locals alike – a destination in the heart of Doha, Qatar, that celebrates its art, culture, and heritage with a full calendar of events. This replica Arabic village set alongside a sheltered bay with striking views of the Doha skyline is home to an ever-changing […]
Living in Lego Land in Qatar
I live in Lego Land in the Land of Sand. Or to be more precise, my new-found home is in a compound in Qatar. Compounds in the Middle East are a far cry from the compounds of South Africa, areas that were set aside as single sex, living quarters for migrant workers, like miners. Here, […]
Eclectic Arabic heritage museum treat
A thousand Arabian oryx, 700 handwoven carpets, 600 classic cars, hundreds of pieces of furniture, a dozen or so dhows, dinosaur teeth and toes … etcetera, all amassed over five decades by one wealthy, passionate collector. And, it’s all available for us to view at the Sheik Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, about 30km […]
What to expect in Doha for the world’s football feast
If you’re coming to Doha, Qatar, for the FIFA 2022 World Cup, be prepared for so much more than a marvellous football feast. As a super-rich, tiny peninsula country in the Gulf, the complexion and culture of this event is going to be very different from previous tournaments for the anticipated 1.5 million visitors. Expect […]
All aboard for Doha’s underground – the Metro
Qatar’s Metro is a super-efficient light rail underground system, criss-crossing Doha with thousands of passengers daily. And I’m their number 1 cheerleader. Why? Because the Metro is economical (even in South African terms) reliable easy to use quick safe, and clean. It also means I can still move about this modern Middle Eastern city of […]
Arabic flavour for 2022 World Cup football feast
From a distance, Doha’s impressive city centre skyline is like a mini-Manhattan. Up close, however, it has a distinctive Arabic flavour, especially with the growing FIFA 2022 World Cup branding. A visual football feast awaits. The prolific presence of Arabic writing, calligraphy, decorative motifs, geometric shapes, rich Middle Eastern colours and design references to the […]
Doha takes art to the people
The giant yellow teddy at Doha’s Hamad International Airport is an apt introduction to the importance Qatar places on public art. Lumpy, old Lamp Bear sits there, larger than life, a photographic magnet for locals and visitors alike, offering just a hint of the many surprising art treats that await in Doha. From illuminated streetlights […]