The night the bombs fell in Qatar
I am not sure what moved fastest – the bombs, my fingers or heartbeat. The bombing of the US Air Force base in Qatar feels surreal now, less than 24 hours later. But last night it was in-your-face, shudderingly real. And I mean that literally, as the ground shook, reverberating with each large boom, as […]
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 […]